Heart Specialists of Lancaster, P.C.
In This Section
Services & Procedures
Glossary of Terms
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z
A
ABI: ankle brachial index – measures obstruction in legs
ACE Inhibitor: block the production of a substance called angiotensin II, which causes blood vessels to tighten. They lower blood pressure so the heart does not have to work as hard.
Angina (an-JY-na): a symptom of coronary artery disease. Can cause painful feeling in chest, arm, back, neck or jaw.
Angioplasty: the opening of a narrowed or blocked artery with the use of specially designed balloon catheters.
Anticoagulants: drugs that keep the blood from clotting.
Aorta: the body’s main artery.
Arrhythmia: abnormal heart rhythm.
Arteries: carry blood away from the heart.
Atherosclerosis: Hardening of the arteries.
Atrial Fibrillation (AF): irregular heartbeat.
Atrium: the upper chambers on each side of the heart that receives and collects blood.
AV Node: located between the atria and ventricles, it functions like an electrical gatekeeper slowing down each electrical impulse before it passes through to the ventricles.
B
Beta-blockers: used to treat high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, help to block excessive stimulation to the heart, reducing heart rate and allowing blood to flow more easily.
BID: twice a day
Bradycardias: abnormal slow heart rhythms occur when the heart beats too slowly.
C
Catheter: a long, thin, flexible tube inserted into the body to perform such procedures as angioplasty and cardiac catheterization.
Catheter Ablation: a technique doctors use to destroy parts of the abnormal electrical pathway that is causing a rapid heart rhythm problem.
CHF: Congestive Heart Failure
Cholesterol: a soft, waxy substance that can build up in your artery walls.
Coronary Angiography: visualization of the blood vessels that bring blood to the heart using X-rays and X-ray dye.
Coronary Arteries: the blood vessels that bring blood to the heart.
D
Diastolic: right-sided heart failure.
Digitalis: is prescribed to help strengthen the heart’s pumping action.
Diuretics: help the kidneys remove the water and sodium that cause excess fluid buildup. This reduces the body’s blood volume, helps the heart pump better, and makes breathing easier.
Dual-chamber pacemaker: a type of pacemaker that has two leads; one is placed in the right atrium, the other in the right ventricle.
E
Echocardiogram: a test that uses sound waves to show the structure and function of the heart.
Electrocardiogram: (ECG or EKG): a test to record the heart’s electrical activity.
Epicardial lead: a type of lead that is attached to the outside surface of the heart.
EP Study: (electrophysiology study) a method for assessing the heart’s electrical system.
F
G
H
HCTZ: diuretic
HDL: high density lipoprotein – good cholesterol
Holter Monitor: a portable ECG device worn for at least 24 hours.
Hypertension: high blood pressure.
I
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: (ICD) a small electronic device that is implanted inside the body for people whose hearts are beating too rapidly.
Ischemia: lack of oxygen to part of the heart muscle
J
K
L
LDL: low density lipoprotein – bad cholesterol
Lead: an insulated, flexible wire that carries electrical impulses from the pacemaker to the heart.
M
MR: mitral regurgitation
Myocardial Infarction: A heart attack.
N
Nitroglycerin: A nitrate drug used to prevent or stop angina by increasing blood flow and reducing the heart’s workload.
NPO: nothing by mouth (if you are NPO, this means you may not eat or drink anything during this time).
NSAID: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
O
P
Pacing: the pacemaker function that sends electrical impulses to the heart to make it beat.
Pacemaker: a small device that is implanted inside the body ready to pace the heart.
Plaque: a fatty material that can clog blood vessels. It can build up in the lining of a damaged artery.
PRN: as needed
Programmer: a device that allows the pacemaker’s settings to be adjusted from outside the body.
PT: protime
Pulse generator: the part of a pacemaker that contains the battery and circuitry.
Q
QD: once a day
R
Rate-adaptive pacemaker: a type of pacemaker that has the ability to increase or decrease the heart rate to meet the body’s changing needs.
Reprogramming: the adjustment of a pacemaker’s settings, done from outside the body.
RTW: return to work
S
SA Node: a cluster of specialized cells located at the top of the right atrium. It functions as the heart’s natural pacemaker producing electrical impulses at regular intervals and setting the pace for the heartbeat.
SBE: subacute bacterial endocarditis
Sensing: a pacemaker’s function that keeps track of the heart’s natural electrical activity.
Sensor: a component of rate-adaptive pacemakers that recognizes body changes, such as changes in motion or breathing.
Single-chamber pacemaker: a type of pacemaker that has one lead, placed in either the right atrium or the right ventricle.
Stents: Devices that are permanently placed inside an artery to keep it open.
Syncope: fainting spells
Systolic: left-sided heart failure.
T
Tachycardias: abnormal rapid heart rhythms that occur when the heart beats too fast.
TEE: transesophageal echocardiogram
TID: three times a day
TR: tricuspid regurgitation
Triglycerides: a type of fat that comes from dietary sources and are produced by the liver.
TTT: tilt table test
U
V
Valves: direct the flow of blood within the heart.
Veins: return blood to the heart.
Ventricle: the lower chambers of the heart that pump blood out of the heart.
W
X
Y
Z
[to top]