Medical Glossary

ACE inhibitor (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor)

a class of medications used to lower blood pressure and treat congestive heart failure. One of the benefits is improved survival in congestive heart failure.

Alpha linolenic acid

a type of Omega-3 fatty acid.

Angina (angina pectoris)

chest discomfort due to decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. The decrese in circulation is caused by atherosclerosis, the buildup of cholesterol in the walls of the blood vessels. Women’s angina symptoms may be atypical.

Angiography (coronary angiography and carotid angiography)

a diagnostic procedure that uses dye to image the coronary arteries. It evaluates the arteries for obstructions responsible for angina or a heart attack. The image produced in angiography is an angiogram.

Angioplasty (coronary angioplasty, PTCA)

a procedure that opens up a coronary artery without surgery and that usually inserts a stent to keep the artery open.

Angiotensin II blocker (A-II blocker)

medication used to lower blood pressure and treat congestive heart failure.

Aortic regurgitation

the incomplete closing of the aortic valve, which causes the blood to leak backward into the left ventricle. Also called aortic insufficiency.

Arrhythmia

a deviation from the regular heartbeat; arrhythmias range from very slow to abnormally fast or irregular.

Atherosclerosis

the narrowing of arteries due to the buildup of cholesterol.

Atrial fibrilliation

an arrhythmia that originates in the heart’s upper chambers and impairs the normal emptying of blood from the atria to the ventricles.

Atypical symptoms

symptoms of heart attack other than chest discomfort, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, back pain, and lower chest discomfort. Atypical symptoms are more common in women.

Beta-Blockers

A class of medication used to treat high blood pressure, symptoms of coronary artery disease, and certain arrhythmias. Beta-blockers slow heart rate and lower blood pressure.