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ABLATION: A procedure to correct a problem with the heart rhythm, usually for hearts that are beating too fast.

ANGINA: Chest pain that is caused by a narrowing or blockage in the arteries that take blood and oxygen to the heart itself called the coronary arteries.

ANGIOGRAM: A test that your doctor performs by injecting the arteries of the heart with a special dye.  This is done to look for a narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries.

ANGIOPLASTY: A procedure to open up a narrowed or blocked artery that carries blood and oxygen to the heart muscle.

ANTIARRHYTHMICS: Medicines that can help control your heart rhythm.

AORTIC VALVE: The valve between the left side of the heart (left ventricle) and the large blood vessel (aorta) going to the body.

ARRHYTHMIA: Describes an irregular or abnormal heart rhythm.

ARTERIES: Blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body.

ATRIA: The two upper chambers of the heart.

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: A disorganized heart rhythm in the upper chambers of the heart (the atria).

AV NODE: Controls the electrical signal as it goes from the atria to the ventricles.

BETA BLOCKER: A medicine that can help control a fast heart rate or lower blood pressure.

BRADYCARDIA: An abnormally slow heart rate.

BYPASS: Open-heart surgery where the doctor uses arteries or veins from other parts of the body to help re-route blood flow around a blockage.

CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS: Medicines that can lower blood pressure.

CARDIAC ARREST: A condition in which the heart stops.

CRT-P: A cardiac resynchronization device that can stimulate both ventricles of the heart to make it pump more effectively.  This device can help the heart pump more blood to the body.

CARDIOVERSION: While the patient under sedation, the heart is shocked back into a normal rhythm.

CATHETER: A small tube that is often threaded into the heart for testing or treatment.

CATHETERIZATION: Commonly called a heart cath, a procedure in which a small plastic tube called a catheter is placed into the heart while your doctor watches on a special x-ray machine.

CHEST X-RAY: A picture of the heart and lungs.

CHOLESTEROL: A fat-like substance carried in the blood.  A high level of cholesterol in the blood can lead to clogged arteries.  Cholesterol is only present in foods from animals: mean, poultry, seafood, dairy products, eggs and animal fats like lard and butter.

CORONARY ARTERIES: These are part of the plumbing system of the heart.  They carry blood and oxygen to the heart muscle.

CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING: Often called CABG or "cabbage" surgery; the doctor uses veins or arteries from other parts of the body to help blood flow around a blockage in your heart.

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE OR CAD: Describes a disease where the arteries that carry blood and oxygen to the heart become blocked. 

CRT-D: Cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator.  The "D" means that a defibrillator has been added to the device.

CUSPS: Flaps of tissue that make up the valves of the heart.

DEFIBRILLATOR: A device that can automatically recognize a disorganized heart rhythm, such as ventricular fibrillation, and shock the heart.  This can restore a normal heart rhythm.

DIABETES: A disease in which the body doesn't make or properly use insulin.  This causes sugar to build up too high in your blood, and can lead to problems in your heart.

DIGOXIN: A medicine that helps control the heart rhythm.  This medicine can help slow the heart rate and keep it slow over time or it can increase the strength of the pumping action of the heart.

DILATE: To expand or make larger.

DIURETIC: A water pill to help lower blood pressure and/or decrease swelling in your legs or prevent fluid from building up in the lungs.

ECHOCARDIOGRAM OR ECHO: An ultrasound picture of the heart; this may reveal the part of the heart muscle that is not pumping properly or a valve that is not working properly.

EJECTION FRACTION: The amount of blood coming out of the heart with each beat.  It takes into account all of the blood in your left ventricle and figures out what percentage is pumped out with each beat.  The normal ejection fraction is typically 50% or more.

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG or EKG): A special electrical picture of the heart which gives information such as heart rhythm.

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY (EP) STUDY: A test to identify and measure the type of electrical signals in your heart.  This is done by inserting special wires into the heart.  It can help your doctor find an irregular heart rhythm, show how well medications work, and help determine treatment for any rhythm problems.

ENZYMES: Chemicals that are released into the blood when the heart muscle is injured by a heart attack.

EXTERNAL CARDIOVERSION: Describes a procedure where the heart is shocked through pads placed on your chest.

GRAFTING: A procedure where other veins or arteries in the body are used to bypass a blockage in a coronary artery.

HARVESTING: Describes taking a vein from the arm or leg to use as a graft for bypass surgery.

HEART ATTACK: Occurs when part of the heart dies because it does not get enough blood and oxygen.  A heart attack can affect a small or large part of the heart.  It is also called a myocardial infarction (MI).

HEART BLOCK: A block in the heart's electrical system preventing some or all of the signals from the atrium to reach the ventricles.

HEART FAILURE: Occurs when the heart becomes weak and may not be able to pump blood as well as a normal heart.  The body may not be able to get the blood and oxygen it needs to work properly.

HEART REHABILITATION CENTER: A place where your exercise is closely monitored after surgery or after a heart attack.

HOLTER MONITOR: A small device that is connected through wires to sticky pads on the chest.  It records an electrical picture of the heart rhythm through these pads.

HYPERTENSION: Another term for high blood pressure.

IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATOR OR ICD: Small device that monitors the heart continuously, and shocks the heart into a normal rhythm if a life threatening rhythm occurs.

LEADS: Wires that are connected to the heart for testing or treatment.

MITRAL VALVE: The valve that separates the upper and lower chambers of the left side of the heart.

MURMUR: An abnormal sound made by blood moving through the heart valves (usually because the valves either do not open properly or do not close properly), the heart chambers or the blood vessels near the heart.

NITROGLYCERIN: A medicine that can help relieve chest pain.

PACEMAKER: A small device to help your heart beat normally.

PORCINE OR PIG VALVE: An artificial heart valve that is very similar to your normal valve.

PULMONARY VALVE: The valve between the right side of the heart and the blood vessels going to the lungs.

REGULAR RHYTHM: The heart's electrical system is working normally and the heart is beating regularly.

REGURGITATION: Blood flowing backwards through a leaky heart valve.

SA NODE: Also called the heart's natural pacemaker; where the electrical signal in the heart begins.

SICK SINUS SYNDROME: Occurs when your heart beats slow, then fast, and then slow again.

STABLE ANGINA: Chest pain that occurs with activity.

STENOSIS: Describes a stiff heart valve or narrowing of an artery.

STENT: A small wire mesh that is placed inside an artery to prevent the artery from closing or to prevent a blockage from coming back.

SYNCOPE: Describes fainting and dizziness due to the lack of blood and oxygen reaching the brain.

TACHYCARDIA: Describes a heart that is beating too fast.

THALLIUM: A substance that is given through an IV line and is often used for a heart stress test.

TILT TEST: An exam during which your blood pressure and heart rate are taken while lying down and standing up.

TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHO OR TEE: An ultrasound of the heart where a special probe is placed in the esophagus and the heart is viewed from a position behind the heart.

TRICUSPID VALVE: The valve that separates the upper and lower chambers of the right side of the heart.

UNSTABLE ANGINA: Describes chest pain that occurs while resting.

VEINS: The vessels that bring blood back to the heart.

VENTRICLES: The lower chambers of the heart.

VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION: Occurs when there is sudden disorganization of the heart's electrical system in the lower chambers of the heart called the ventricles.  The heart becomes so electrically disorganized that it can't pump blood to the body.

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