| A | B |
|---|
| analgesic | pertaining to relieving pain; pain-relieving meds |
| aneurysm | localized dilation of weakened artery wall, balloons out with pulsation |
| anomaly | deviation from normal;birth defect |
| anorexia | loss of appetite |
| ascites | abnormal collection of fluid in peritoneal cavity |
| atherosclerosis | a form of arteriosclerosis with fatty deposits w/in larger arteries |
| benign | noncancerous;not progressive |
| bruit | an abormal sound or murmur heard when listeing to the sounds of the body |
| carditis | inflammation of the heart muscles |
| claudication | cramplike pains in the calves caused by poor circulation |
| dependent edema | a fluid accumulation in the tissues influenced by gravity; usually greater in lower extremities |
| diastole | the period of relaxation of the heart, alternating with the contraction phase known as systole |
| dysrhythmia | abnormal rhythm |
| edema | localized or generalized collection of fluid w/in body tissues, causing swelling |
| endocarditis | inflammation of the inner lining of the heart |
| epicardium | inner layer of the pericardium |
| hyperlipidemia | an excessive level of fats in the blood |
| hypertension | elevated blood pressure persistently higher than 140/90. AKA high blood pressure |
| hypotension | low blood pressure, less than normal BP reading |
| infarction | a localized area of necrosis in tissue, vessel, organ or part, resulting from lack of oxygen due to interrupted blood flow to the area |
| ischemia | decreased suppy of oxygenated blood to a body part or organ |
| lipid | any of a group of fats found in the blood |
| lumen | a cavity or channel within any organ or body structure |
| malaise | a vague feeling of body weakness or discomfort |
| mediastinum | the area between the lungs in the chest cavity |
| murmur | a low-pitched humming or fluttering sound, heard on auscultation |
| auscultation | listening to the sounds in the body |
| myocardium | the middle, muscular layer of the heart |
| occlusion | closure, or state of being closed; blockage |
| palpable | detectable by touch |
| palpitation | a pounding or racing of the heart, associated with normal emotional responses or with heart disorders |
| pitting edema | swelling, that when pressed firmly will maintain the dent |
| prophylactic | an agent that protects against disease |
| septum | a wall or partition that divides or separates two cavities |
| systole | the contraction phase of the heartbeat forcing blood into the aorta and the pulmonary arteries |
| thrombosis | the formation or existence of a blood clot |
| vasoconstriction | narrowing of the lumen of a blood vessel |
| vegetation | an abnormal growth of tissue around a valve |
| anxiety | a feeling of apprehension, worry, uneasiness, or dread |
| bradycardia | a slow heart rate, pulse under 60 bpm |
| cyanosis | bluish skin due to abnormal amounts of reduced hemoglobin in the blood |
| dyspnea | air hunger |
| fatigue | a feeling of tiredness or wearniess from activity or drug |
| nausea | unpleasant sensation usually preceding vomiting |
| pallor | lack of color;paleness |
| sweat | perspiration; the liquid secreted by the sweat glands |
| tachycardia | abnormal rapidity of heart action, usually a heart rate over 100 bpm |
| weakness | lacking physical strength or vigor (energy) |
| angina pectoris | severe pain and constriction about the heart, usually raditating down the left arm |
| myocardial infarction | AKA heart attack. caused by occlusion of one or more coronary arteries |
| congestive heart failure | condition characterized by weakness, breathlessness, abdominal discomfort, and edema AKA cardiac failure |
| rheumatic fever | an inflammatory diseas that may develop as reaction to streptococcal infections of the upper respitory tract |
| mitral valve prolapse | AKA click-murmur syndrome. drooping of the mitral valve back into the left atrium, resulting in incomplete closure of the valve and mitral insufficiency |
| arteriosclerosis | condition of thickening, hardening and loss of elasticity in the arteries |
| thrombophlebitis | inflammation of a vein associated with a thrombus |
| varicose veins | enlarged, superficial veins; dilated vein with incompetent valves |
| essential hypertension | accounting for 90% of all hypertension |
| secondary hypertension | hypertension caused by conditions such as kidney disease and pregnancy |
| malignant hypertension | severe and rapidly progressive hyptertension |
| Raynaud's phenomenon | intermittent attacks of vasoconstriction of the arterioles; changes in skin color before returning to normal |
| heart block (AV) | interference with the normal conduction of electric impluses that control heart muscle activity |
| atrial flutter | condition in which the atria contractions become extremely rapid 250-400 bpm |
| fibrillation (atrial/ventricular) | extremely rapid, incomplete contractions of the atria/ventricle resulting in disorganized and uncoordinated twitching of the atria |
| electrocardiogram | a graphic record of the electrical heart action as reflected from various angles to the skin surface AKA: EKG or EEG |
| (CAT) computerized axial tomography | diagnostic x-ray technique using ionizing radiation to produce a cross-sectional image |
| Holter monitoring | a small, monitoring device that makes electrocardiography recordings on a portable tape recorder |
| magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) | test that involves the use of a strong magenectic field and radiofrequency waves to produce imaging |
