Heart Health Special Report
Heart Glossary
Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Heart Health Heart Glossary
Johns Hopkins Heart Glossary
Derived from The Johns Hopkins White Paper 2007: Coronary Heart Disease and
The Johns Hopkins White Paper 2007: Heart Attack Prevention
aneurysm
Ballooning or bulging of the wall of the heart, an artery, or a vein caused by weakening of the wall.angina
Pain, pressure, or tightness in the chest that arises when the heart muscle receives less oxygen than it needs.angiography
An imaging technique in which a catheter is threaded through an artery to the heart to evaluate the presence of plaque. It is the best method for detecting blockages in the coronary arteries.angioplasty
A procedure in which a catheter with a balloon at its tip is directed to a site where a coronary artery is narrowed by plaque. The balloon is inflated to compress the plaque against the walls of the artery and to stretch the artery.anticoagulants
Drugs that decrease the formation of blood clots by inhibiting the production of fibrin, a major protein component of clots. Examples are heparin and warfarin (Coumadin).antioxidants
Substances that help the body neutralize free radicals. Beta-carotene, vitamin E, and vitamin C are naturally occurring antioxidants.antiplatelets
Drugs that decrease the formation of blood clots by inhibiting the aggregation, or clumping together, of blood platelets. One example is aspirin.aorta
The body’s main artery. It transports oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart to the arteries that supply the rest of the body.arrhythmia
An abnormal heart rhythm.atherectomy
A method of removing plaque from the inside of an artery using a rotary blade or drill.atherosclerosis
An accumulation of deposits of fat and fibrous tissue, called plaques, within the walls of arteries. This process narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow through them.atria
The two upper chambers of the heart. The left atrium receives newly oxygenated blood from the lungs; the right atrium receives blood returning from the rest of the body.atrial fibrillation
A common heart rhythm abnormality in which the atria contract at a rapid, chaotic rate and cause rapid and irregular contractions of the ventricles.body mass index (BMI)
A measurement of weight in relation to height.bradycardia
A slow heart rate, usually defined as less than 60 beats per minute in an adult.bypass surgery
A surgical procedure that uses an artery from the chest or a portion of a vein from the leg to channel blood around a narrowed segment of a coronary artery.
cardiac arrest
A sudden, abrupt loss of the heart’s ability to pump blood, most often as a result of ventricular fibrillation.cardiovascular disease
Disease affecting the arteries supplying blood to the heart and other organs. Coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease are the most common cardiovascular diseases.cerebrovascular disease
Disease that affects arteries supplying blood to the brain.cholesterol
A soft, waxy substance present in cells throughout the body. Deposits of cholesterol within the walls of arteries can lead to the formation of plaques.coronary calcium scan
A noninvasive imaging technique that reveals calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. Calcium indicates atherosclerosis.coronary heart disease (CHD)
A narrowing of the coronary arteries by atherosclerosis. It can reduce or completely block blood flow to the heart.coronary heart disease (CHD) event
Often defined as a heart attack, episode of unstable angina, or CHDrelated death.defibrillation
Use of an electric shock to reestablish a normal rhythm in a heart that is beating ineffectively as a result of ventricular fibrillation.diastolic blood pressure
The lower number in a blood pressure reading. The pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats.echocardiography
A diagnostic test that uses ultrasound waves to visualize the heart, its valves, and the flow of blood within the heart.electrocardiogram (ECG)
A graphical record of the heart’s electrical activity obtained by applying small metal sensors to the skin.endothelium
The layer of cells that line the walls of arteries. Injury to these cells is an important first step in the development of atherosclerosis.free radicals
Chemical compounds formed during normal metabolism. They can damage cells and oxidize low-density lipoproteins, which can then be deposited in the walls of arteries.Posted in Heart Health on April 14, 2007
