| A | B |
|---|
| aneurysm | A localized abnormal dilation of a blood vessel, usually an artery, caused by weakness of the vessel wall. May eventually burst. |
| angina pectoris | A feeling of constriction around the heart or pain that may radiate to the left arm or shoulder, usually brought on by exertion; caused by insufficient blood supply to the heart. |
| arrhythmia | Any abnormality in the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. |
| cerebrovascular accident, stroke | Sudden damage to the brain resulting from reduction of blood flow. Causes include atherosclerosis, embolism, thrombosis, or hemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm; commonly called stroke. |
| cyanosis | Bluish discoloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen |
| edema | Swelling of body tissues due to the presence of excess fluid. Causes include cardiovascular disturbances, kidney failure, inflammation, and malnutrition. |
| embolism | Obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot or other matter carried in the circulation. |
| embolus | A mass carried in the circulation. Usually a blood clot, but may also be air, fat, bacteria, or other solid matter from within or from outside the body. |
| dyspnea | Difficult or labored breathing. |
| fibrillation | Spontaneous, quivering, and ineffectual contraction of muscle fibers, as in the atria or the ventricles. |
| heart failure | A condition caused by the inability of the heart to maintain adequate circulation of blood. |
| hypertension | A condition of higher than normal blood pressure. Essential (primary, idiopathic) hypertension has no known cause. |
| infarction | Localized necrosis of tissue resulting from a blockage or narrowing of the artery that supplies the area. A myocardial infarction occurs in cardiac muscle and usually results from formation of a thrombus in a coronary artery. |
| ischemia | Local deficiency of blood supply due to obstruction of the circulation. |
| murmur | An abnormal heart sound. A functional murmur is generated by normal heart function and does not indicate a defect. |
| occlusion | A closing off or obstruction, as of a vessel. |
| phlebitis | Inflammation of a vein. |
| rheumatic heart disease | Damage to heart valves following infection with a type of streptococcus. The antibodies produced in response to the infection produce scarring of the valves, usually the mitral valve. |
| shock | Circulatory failure resulting in inadequate supply of blood to the heart. Cardiogenic shock is due to heart failure; hypovolemic shock is due to a loss of blood volume; septic shock is due to bacterial infection. |
| stenosis | Constriction or narrowing of an opening |
| thrombosis, thrombus | Development of a blood clot within a vessel. |
| Hodgkin's disease | A malignant disease causing progressive enlargement of lymphoid tissue |
| lymphoma | Any neoplastic disease of lymphoid tissue |
| lymphadenitis | Inflammation and enlargement of lymph nodes, usually as a result of infection. |
| lymphadenopathy | Any disease of the lymph nodes; often used to mean enlarged lymph nodes. |
| lymphedema | Swelling of tissues with lymph due to obstruction or excision of lymphatic vessels. |
| bradycardia | A slow heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute. |
| flutter | A very rapid (200-300 per minute) but regular contractions, as in the atria or the ventricles. |
| hypotension | A conditon of lower than normal blood pressure. |
| tachycardia | An abnormally rapid heart rate, usually over 100 beats per minute. |
