Heart Attack Information
A comprehensive list of heart-related terms, covering anatomy, conditions, procedures, and other relevant medical terminology associated with the heart. We have organized them into categories for clarity.
Glossary of Commonly Used Terms
The terminology below is meant to get you started. You will encounter many more terms, acronyms, slang, and abbreviations than are listed below. When you encounter one, don't be afraid to pause and ask for clarification.
Comprehensive Stroke Reference Guide for Survivors and Families
This 13 point guide will help you understand the different types of strokes, symptoms, treatments, and a variety of other useful information.
Questions & Answers
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque scelerisque id mi congue molestie. Aliquam nibh risus, pellentesque a volutpat nec, facilisis sit amet odio. Duis sed bibendum velit. Phasellus ut nisl bibendum, ultricies lorem eget, convallis lectus. Sed vulputate et orci id accumsan. Nunc quis efficitur mauris. Nulla tincidunt, risus non porta vehicula, nibh quam eleifend purus, vitae ultrices magna lacus ac neque.
About STEMI
ST-elevation myocardial infarction, is a severe type of heart attack where a major coronary artery is completely blocked, preventing blood flow to the heart muscle. This blockage leads to significant heart muscle damage or death, and prompt treatment is crucial to minimize damage and improve survival.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
listed as the underlying cause of death, accounted for 941,652 deaths in the United States in 2022.
This list covers the most common and significant heart-related terms. If you need a deeper dive into any specific category, term, or related topic, let me know!
Heart Anatomy
- Atrium: Upper chambers of the heart (left and right atria).
- Ventricle: Lower chambers of the heart (left and right ventricles).
- Aorta: The main artery carrying blood from the heart to the body.
- Pulmonary Artery: An Artery carrying deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.
- Pulmonary Vein: Veins carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
- Coronary Arteries: Blood vessels supplying blood to the heart muscle.
- Myocardium: The heart muscle tissue.
- Endocardium: Inner lining of the heart.
- Pericardium: The Sac surrounding the heart.
- Mitral Valve: Valve between the left atrium and left ventricle.
- Tricuspid Valve: Valve between the right atrium and right ventricle.
- Aortic Valve: Valve between the left ventricle and the aorta.
- Pulmonary Valve: Valve between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery.
- Sinoatrial (SA) Node: Natural pacemaker initiating heartbeats.
- Atrioventricular (AV) Node: Conducts electrical impulses from atria to ventricles.
- Bundle of His: Fibers conducting impulses in the heart.
- Purkinje Fibers: Fibers that spread electrical impulses in the ventricles.
Heart Conditions and Diseases
- Arrhythmia: Irregular heartbeat (e.g., atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia).
- Atrial Fibrillation (AFib): Rapid, irregular atrial contractions.
- Ventricular Fibrillation: Rapid, chaotic ventricular contractions, life-threatening.
- Bradycardia: Abnormally slow heart rate.
- Tachycardia: Abnormally fast heart rate.
- Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Narrowing of coronary arteries due to plaque buildup.
- Myocardial Infarction: Heart attack, caused by a blocked coronary artery.
- Angina Pectoris: Chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart.
- Heart Failure: The Heart’s inability to pump blood effectively.
- Cardiomyopathy: Disease of the heart muscle (e.g., dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive).
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Thickening of the heart muscle, often genetic.
- Endocarditis: Infection of the heart’s inner lining or valves.
- Pericarditis: Inflammation of the pericardium.
- Myocarditis: Inflammation of the heart muscle.
- Congenital Heart Defect: Structural heart abnormalities present at birth.
- Aortic Aneurysm: Bulging or rupture-prone aorta.
- Heart Valve Disease: Malfunction of heart valves (e.g., stenosis, regurgitation).
- Mitral Valve Prolapse: Improper closure of the mitral valve.
- Cardiac Arrest: Sudden cessation of heart function.
- Atherosclerosis: Plaque buildup in arteries, often affecting the coronary arteries.
Diagnostic Terms
- Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG): Test recording the heart’s electrical activity.
- Echocardiogram: Ultrasound imaging of the heart.
- Stress Test: Measures heart performance under physical stress.
- Cardiac Catheterization: Procedure to visualize heart vessels using a catheter.
- Angiogram: Imaging of blood vessels using contrast dye.
- Holter Monitor: A Portable ECG device worn to monitor heart rhythm.
- Cardiac MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging of the heart.
- Cardiac CT: Computed tomography scan of the heart.
- Troponin Test: A Blood test to detect heart muscle damage.
- BNP Test: Blood test for brain natriuretic peptide, indicating heart failure.
Procedures and Treatments
- Angioplasty: Procedure to open blocked coronary arteries, often with a stent.
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): Surgery to bypass blocked coronary arteries.
- Pacemaker: Device implanted to regulate heart rhythm.
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD): Device to correct life-threatening arrhythmias.
- Heart Transplant: Replacement of a failing heart with a donor heart.
- Valve Replacement/Repair: Surgery to fix or replace damaged heart valves.
- Cardioversion: Procedure to restore normal heart rhythm using electric shocks.
- Ablation: Procedure to destroy tissue causing abnormal heart rhythms.
- Stenting: Placement of a tube to keep arteries open.
- Thrombolytic Therapy: Use of drugs to dissolve blood clots in heart attacks.
Other Heart-Related Terms
- Cardiology: Medical specialty focusing on heart disorders.
- Cardiologist: A Doctor specializing in heart care.
- Heart Rate: Number of heartbeats per minute.
- Blood Pressure: Force of blood against artery walls (systolic/diastolic).
- Hypertension: High blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease.
- Hypotension: Low blood pressure.
- Cardiac Output: Volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute.
- Stroke Volume: The Amount of blood pumped per heartbeat.
- Cholesterol: Fat-like substance; high levels contribute to atherosclerosis.
- LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein): “Bad” cholesterol, linked to artery plaque.
- HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein): “Good” cholesterol, protective for the heart.
- Triglycerides: A Type of fat in blood, linked to heart disease risk.
- Syncope: Fainting, sometimes heart-related.
- Edema: Swelling due to fluid buildup, often linked to heart failure.
- Palpitations: Sensation of rapid or irregular heartbeats.
- Murmur: Abnormal heart sound due to turbulent blood flow.
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
caused 371 506 deaths in 2022.
Comprehensive Stroke Reference Guide for Survivors and Families
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean quis dapibus dui, scelerisque aliquet arcu. Vestibulum ultricies dolor id neque porta, in porta tellus bibendum. Nullam accumsan quam sed est consectetur ullamcorper. Duis lobortis ipsum ut metus laoreet ornare. Nulla et tempus orci. Donec nisi leo, vehicula a enim vel, vehicula auctor ante. Maecenas ut tempus sem. Curabitur in interdum ante, eget gravida nulla. Etiam sapien odio, ornare in egestas eu, lobortis id magna. Integer id condimentum dui. Donec sollicitudin feugiat quam, non sollicitudin erat iaculis vitae. Donec vitae blandit risus, eget bibendum metus. Curabitur ultricies nisl ut turpis lobortis, ultrices mattis nibh pulvinar.
Nunc vitae lorem quis velit iaculis euismod sit amet sed nibh. Curabitur purus purus, tincidunt ac vestibulum nec, pulvinar vitae libero. Nunc aliquet fermentum purus vitae hendrerit. Vivamus at massa metus. Nullam sed sollicitudin justo, eget egestas diam. Sed scelerisque ipsum ac enim sollicitudin faucibus. Morbi nec diam quis diam laoreet dictum. Cras congue nunc nisl, eget suscipit nisi mattis eu. Integer luctus magna sit amet mollis tincidunt. Sed elit ante, suscipit nec dictum a, dignissim quis erat.
In a mauris vitae urna dictum suscipit. Nulla placerat tortor et eros ullamcorper semper. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nam quam purus, iaculis eu purus ut, ultricies placerat sapien. Curabitur suscipit lorem non massa finibus, sit amet sollicitudin neque pellentesque. Fusce fermentum ultrices lacus congue dapibus. Donec facilisis odio sapien, sit amet fermentum lorem ullamcorper nec. Fusce non lectus suscipit ante pulvinar suscipit vitae nec magna. Aliquam commodo purus at vulputate auctor.
Pellentesque facilisis lorem at quam suscipit tincidunt. Quisque dui turpis, malesuada ut interdum a, viverra ac nisl. Donec efficitur ex dui, quis venenatis lectus auctor quis. Cras pharetra vel nunc vitae suscipit. Aenean convallis sit amet dolor nec lacinia. Donec hendrerit, mauris at feugiat ullamcorper, mauris nibh venenatis sem, dignissim ornare justo lectus non velit. Phasellus ac luctus ex. Suspendisse fringilla quis justo in ornare. Nunc vulputate est a elit sagittis venenatis. In porta vehicula neque quis semper. Praesent elementum, ante a elementum vestibulum, nunc orci tempus elit, nec euismod ex lectus vitae purus. In auctor ultrices nibh vel sollicitudin.
Nam eget finibus quam. Donec purus massa, consequat vel vehicula et, mattis eu mi. Curabitur ex metus, commodo et quam id, tristique egestas mi. Aliquam justo dui, pretium a sem ac, rutrum fermentum dolor. Duis non vestibulum risus, efficitur viverra magna. Quisque scelerisque est ut nibh consectetur blandit. Donec quis ex arcu. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Nearly 1 in 4 people
caused 371 506 deaths in 2022
Questions & Answers
Symptoms include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, and pain in the jaw, neck, back, or arms. Women may experience subtler symptoms like fatigue or indigestion. Call 911 immediately if suspected.
Adopt a heart-healthy diet (low in saturated fats, high in fruits and vegetables), exercise regularly (150 minutes/week), quit smoking, manage stress, and control blood pressure and cholesterol through regular checkups.
Causes include genetics, high salt intake, stress, obesity, and lack of exercise. Manage it with a low-sodium diet (e.g., DASH diet), regular physical activity, stress reduction, and prescribed medications if needed.
Aim for LDL ("bad") cholesterol below 100 mg/dL and HDL ("good") above 60 mg/dL. Improve levels with a diet rich in fiber and healthy fats (e.g., nuts, fish), exercise, and possibly statins as prescribed.
Chronic stress or anxiety can raise blood pressure, trigger arrhythmias, or increase heart attack risk by elevating cortisol. Manage with mindfulness, therapy, exercise, or relaxation techniques.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent fatigue, swelling in legs or ankles, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty exercising. Unlike a heart attack, heart failure is a chronic condition requiring medical management.
Yes, family history increases risk for conditions like coronary artery disease. Get screened (e.g., ECG, stress test, or genetic testing) if you have a family history or risk factors like high cholesterol or hypertension.
An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia, e.g., atrial fibrillation) involves abnormal heart rhythms, causing palpitations or dizziness. Some are harmless, but others increase stroke risk. Treatments include medications or procedures like ablation.
A heart-healthy diet (e.g., Mediterranean) with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and omega-3s supports heart function. Avoid trans fats, excess sodium, and processed foods to reduce heart disease risk.
Aerobic exercises like brisk walking, swimming, or cycling (150 minutes/week of moderate intensity) strengthen the heart. Combine with strength training twice weekly, but consult a doctor if you have heart conditions.
Heart disease and stroke
claimed more lives in 2022 in the United States than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease combined.
Information about AFib
What is AFib?
AFib ia common type of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) where the heart’s upper chambers (atria) beat chaotically and out of sync with the lower chambers (ventricles). This can cause the heart to beat too fast or irregularly, leading to reduced blood flow to the rest of the body.
A Stroke Caused by AFib
A stroke can occur during AFib if a clot forms in the left atrium of the heart, a piece of it can dislodge and travel to an artery in the brain, blocking blood flow through the artery. The lack of blood flow to the portion of the brain fed by the artery causes a stroke.
AFib Facts
- About 2.7 million people are living with AFib.
- People with AFib are 5X more likely to have a stroke.
AFib Prevention Measure
- Nutritious diet
- Regular exercise
- Healthy weight
- Don’t smoke
- Manage stress
- Limit alcohol and caffeine
- Control diabetes
- Get optimal sleep
AFib Symptoms
These are the primary symptoms that should trigger you or a family member to take actions and call 911.
- Heart is skipping a beat
- Fluttering or pounding heartbeat
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Chest tightness
- Heart beating too hard or fast
- Shortness of breath
AFib Insights
While many factors might be involved in contributing to AFib here are a few you should be aware of and manage with your doctor, don’t put it off.
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Cholesterol LDL levels
- Smoking
- Age
- Race & ethnicity
- Family history
- High stress levels
- Unhealthy lifestyle
- Obesity