Cardiac Terms

The more you know about cardiovascular disease, the better able you and your family are able to make good choices about your lifestyle. Please use the terms below to learn more about coronary heart disease.

Angina (Angina Pectoris)
Pain or discomfort due to lack of oxygen to the heart muscle. It may manifest as pain or discomfort, heaviness, tightness, pressure or burning, numbness aching, tingling in the chest, back, neck, throat, jaw or arms.

Angioplasty
An insertion of a balloon at the end of a catheter, blown up to compress the clogged area of the artery against the artery wall and then removed.

Arrhythmias
Abnormal rhythms of the heart beat. These premature contractions can be atrial or ventricular and may or may not be dangerous.

Arteries
Blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood.

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft  (Cabbage)
Surgery performed to bypass the blocked coronary artery that uses a vein from the leg or chest to carry the blood as "a bridge" around the blocked coronary artery.

Cardiac Cath or Cardiac Catheterization
A catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the arm or groin (after a local anesthesia is given) and threaded up to the heart. A dye is then injected and X-rays are taken of the heart arteries. If there is blockage in any artery, it is usually easily seen.

Echocardiogram
A study using high-frequency sound waves to picture or visualize the heart chambers, the thickness of the muscle wall, the heart valves and major blood vessels located near the heart. This is a noninvasive procedure.

Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
A graph of the electrical conduction system of the heart.

Stent
A small metal coil or mesh tube that is placed in the artery to keep the inner wall of the artery open.