Whatever the shape of your heart, we will take care of it.

Glossary of Terms

 

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

 

 
Heart Attack The death of a portion of heart muscle, which may result in disability or death of the individual, depends on the extent of the muscle damage. A heart attack occurs when an obstruction in one the coronary arteries prevents an adequate oxygen supply to the heart. Symptoms may be none, mild or severe, and may include chest pain, sometimes radiating to the shoulder, arm, neck or jaw; nausea; cold sweat: and shortness of breath.
 
Heart Block A condition in which the electrical impulse that travels through the heart's specialized conduction system to trigger the events of the heartbeat is slowed or blocked along its pathway.
 
Heart Disease A general term used to mean ailments of the heart of blood vessels related to structure or function. May be present at birth or develop after birth.
 
Heart Failure See Congestive Heart Failure.
 
Heart-Lung Machine A special instrument used to provide circulation to the body during open-heart surgery.
 
Heparin A type of anticoagulant that is given by injection.
 
High Blood Pressure An elevation of blood pressure above the normal range.
 
HLHS Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.  A life threatening heart defect in newborns in which the left ventricle and other structures are too small to maintain bodily circulation
 
Holter Monitoring A process by which the ECG can be tape-recorded for 24 hours. The patient wears a small tape recorder connected to ECG leads placed on the chest for 24 hours. A written diary is kept during that period to record symptoms.
 
Hypertension Commonly called high blood pressure. It is blood pressure above the normal range.
 
Hypertrophy Enlargement of a tissue or organ due to increase in the size of its cells. This may result from a demand for increased work.
 
Hypotension Blood pressure below the normal range.
 
Hypoxia Less than normal content of oxygen in the organs and tissues of the body. At very high altitudes, health people experience hypoxia because of the decreased amount of oxygen in the air.