an excessive localized enlargement of an artery caused by a weakening of the artery wall.

severe chest pain caused by myocardial ischemia

irregular heartbeat

listening to sounds within the body (usually with a stethoscope)

inflammation of the lining or valves of the heart caused by the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream

Pressure exerted by the blood upon the walls of the blood vessels, especially arteries, usually measured by means of a sphygmomanometer and expressed in millimeters of mercury.

abnormally slow heartbeat

complete stopping of heart activity

thin, flexible tube is guided into the heart via a vein or an artery

complex proteins released by heart muscle when it is damaged; taken by blood sample to determine amount of heart disease or damage; most common cardiac enzymes are creatine kinase (CK), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)

emergency procedure consisting of external cardiac compressions and artificial ventilation

birth defect in wall separating two chambers of heart allowing blood to pass between two chambers; there can be atrial septal defect (ASD) or ventricular septal defect (VSD)

the failure of the heart to pump efficiently, leading to excessive blood or fluids in the lungs, the body, or both

open-heart surgery in which blood vessel, often leg vein, is grafted to route blood around occluded coronary artery

a condition affecting arteries of the heart that reduces the flow of blood and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the myocardium; most often caused by atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis

formation of a clot in a deep vein of the body, occurring most often in the femoral and iliac veins; pieces of the clot break away forming emboli.

application of an electric shock to the myocardium through the chest wall to restore normal cardiac rhythm

imaging technique using ultrasound to create moving image; utilized to evaluate blood flow through blood vessels, movement of heart valves, and movement of heart muscle during contraction

process of recording the electrical activity of the heart

surgical removal of plaque from the inner layer of an artery

chaotic, irregular contractions of the heart, as in atrial or ventricular fibrillation

an abnormal sound from the heart produced by defects in the chambers or valves

replacement of diseased or malfunctioning heart with donor's heart

cusps or flaps of heart valve are too loose and fail to shut tightly, allowing blood to flow backward (regurgitation) through valve when heart chamber contracts; most commonly occurs in mitral valve, but may affect any heart valve

cusps or flaps of heart valve are too stiff and unable to open fully, making it difficult for blood to flow through; condition may affect any of heart valves but most often affects mitral valve

a portable electrocardiograph that is worn by an ambulatory patient to continuously monitor the heart rates and rhythms over a 24-hour period

elevated blood pressure persistently higher than 140/90 mm Hg

lower than normal blood pressure

electrical device implanted in chest cavity with electrodes to heart; applies shock to heart to stop potentially life-threatening arrhythmias such as fibrillation

Area of dead tissue after a lack of blood supply due to ischemia

treatment for clots occluding blood vessel; drugs, such as streptokinase (SK) or tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), are injected into blood vessels to chemically dissolve clots; commonly referred to as clot-busters

heart attack; death of myocardial tissue (infarction) caused by ischemia (loss of blood flow) as a result of an occlusion (plugging) of a coronary artery; usually caused by atherosclerosis; symptoms include pain in the chest or upper body (shoulders, neck, and jaw), shortness of breath, diaphoresis, and nausea

loss of blood supply to heart muscle tissue of myocardium due to occlusion of coronary artery; may cause angina pectoris or myocardial infarction

closure of a blood vessel due to blockage by thrombus, plaque, or embolus

An electrical device for stimulating or steadying the heartbeat or reestablishing the rhythm of an arrested heart.

Method for treating coronary artery narrowing; balloon catheter is inserted into coronary artery and inflated to dilate narrow blood vessels

disease of blood vessels away from central region of body, most typically in legs; symptoms include pain, numbness, and impaired circulation

instrument used to measure blood pressure; also referred to as blood pressure cuff

stainless steel tube placed within a blood vessel or a duct to widen the lumen

performed to assess cardiovascular health and function during and after stress

Abnormally rapid heartbeat

specialized echocardiography procedure in which patient swallows ultrasound head in order to better visualize internal cardiac structures, especially cardiac valves

abnormally swollen, twisted veins with defective valves; most often seen in the legs

procedure used to puncture a vein with a needle to remove blood, instill a medication, or start an intravenous infusion