Heart Attack-Glossary

Angina pectoris: Angina Pectoris is recurring acute chest pain or discomfort resulting from temporary difference in demand and supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. The demand for oxygen is more than the supply.

Anticoagulants: Substance that prevents clotting of blood.

Atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis is the hardening of arteries due to deposition of fatty material along the walls of arteries. It is form of arteriosclerosis.

Beta-blockers: Drugs that decrease workload of the heart by slowing down the heart rate.

Cardiac rehabilitation program: An exercise program to help a patient to recover from a heart attack and also help prevent another heart attack.

Catheter: A thin flexible or rigid hollow tube.

Congestive heart failure: Congestive heart failure is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to support the body's needs. It is also known as heart failure.

Coronary artery disease: Coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart that usually results from atherosclerosis.

CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a combination of rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth breathing) and chest compressions that can support a small amount of blood flow to the heart and brain to buy time until normal heart function is restored.

Dye: A dye is a substance that is used as contrast medium to delineate structures during radiological procedures.

Hemorrhage: Bleeding.

Occlusion: Closure or blockage of a blood vessel.

Palpitations: Irregular rapid beating of the heart.

Spasm: A sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles.

Stent: A narrow metal or plastic tube often in the form of a mesh that is inserted into the lumen of a vessel especially to keep a previously blocked passageway open.