Glossary of Terms
Angina
Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD)
and is typically a recurring feeling of pain or discomfort in the
chest due to myocardial ischemia, i.e. an inadequate supply of blood
and oxygen to theheart muscle resulting from narrowing or blockages
in the coronary arteries.
Stable angina
is the most predictable and
prevalent form. Physical exertion is the most common trigger,
although emotional stress and exposure to extreme temperatures
also may lead to anginal episodes. The angina attacks typically
last no more than five minutes and are usually relieved by rest
and/or nitroglycerin.
Unstable angina
is unpredictable. Patients
experience symptoms without an obvious trigger, often while they
are at rest. The discomfort may be more severe, prolonged (as long
as 30 minutes) and different in character than stable angina
symptoms.
Angioplasty
An invasive procedure performed to reduce or
eliminate blockages in coronary arteries. A catheter with a deflated
balloon near the tip is guided to the blood vessels of the heart.
Once the blocked area is reached, the balloon is inflated to widen
the artery and increase blood flow. The balloon is then deflated
and the catheter is removed.
Cardiac Bypass
Surgery
A surgical procedure used to restore blood flow to
the heart muscle by bypassing the blocked area. A blood vessel is
usually removed from the leg or chest and reattached to bypass the
blockage in the coronary arteries. This procedure is also known as a
coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure.
Cardiogenic Shock
Cardiogenic shock is a life-threatening condition
resulting from the failure to maintain adequate blood supply to the
circulatory system and other organs. The major cause of cardiogenic
shock is a severe heart attack leading to damage to a significant
portion of the heart muscle rendering it unable to pump sufficient
blood to maintain an adequate cardiac output to support the body’s
needs. Symptoms may develop immediately or may take several hours to
appear. Symptoms include sweating, cold hands and feet, nausea and
shallow, rapid breathing.
Congestive Heart
Failure (CHF)
A chronic condition in which the heart muscle
gradually weakens and cannot pump enough blood to meet the needs of
the rest of the body. CHF is a complication of many serious diseases
in which the heart loses its full pumping capacity, causing blood to
back into other organs, especially the lungs and liver. Heart
failure develops over time as the pumping action of the heart grows
weaker. It can affect either or both sides of the heart, but most
cases involve the left side where the heart cannot pump enough
oxygenrich blood to the rest of the body. The main causes of heart
failure include coronary artery disease, ischemia, heart attack,
high blood pressure, diabetes, and diseases of the heart valves.
Symptoms include:
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Shortness
of breath |
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Persistent
coughing and/or wheezing |
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Constant fatigue
and difficulty with everyday tasks |
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Swelling in the
ankles, feet, legs and sometimes the abdomen |
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Confusion,
impaired thinking, memory loss and disorientation |
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Increased heart
rate |
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
CAD is the result of plaque buildup in the coronary
artery wall, narrowing or blocking the arteries supplying blood to
the heart muscle, decreasing the needed oxygen and nutrients and
typically resulting in the development of anginal symptoms.
EECP ®
Therapy
EECP therapy is a non-invasive, outpatient therapy
for the treatment of patients with heart disease. Treatment is
typically given in 35 one-hour sessions over seven weeks. Patients
lie down on a padded table and their calves and lower and upper
thighs are wrapped in blood pressure-like cuffs. The system, which
is synchronized to the individual patient’s cardiac cycle, inflates
the cuffs with air to create external pressure when the heart is
resting and deflates the cuffs just before the heart beats. The
system’s action, which pulses counter to the heart’s beating,
increases blood flow to the heart muscle and decreases the heart’s
workload, creating a greater oxygen supply for the heart muscle
while lowering the heart’s need for oxygen. EECP therapy is
currently indicated for use in cases of stable and unstable angina,
congestive heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and acute myocardial
infarction.
Myocardial
Infarction (MI)
Also known as a heart attack, MI is the sudden
damage or death of heart muscle as a result of a blocked artery
restricting the flow of blood.
Myocardial
Ischemia
Occurs when plaque build-up or an obstruction causes
the heart arteries to narrow, reducing the flow of
oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
Nitroglycerin
Commonly prescribed to control angina symptoms.
Nitroglycerin widens blood vessels and is prescribed in both short-
and long-acting forms.
Sources:
American Heart Association –
www.americanheart.org
Your Medical Source –
www.yourmedicalsource.com
Legacy Heart Care –
www.legacyheartcare.com
Life Heart –
www.lifeheart.com
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