A
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). The damaging or death of an area of heart muscle (myocardium) resulting from a blocked blood supply to that area. Commonly known as a heart attack.¹

Angina. Condition in which the heart muscle does not get enough blood, resulting in chest pain.¹

Anticoagulant Therapy. The use of a blood-thinning drug to reduce the risk of clots in the blood vessels.¹

Antithrombotics. A general name for drugs that prohibit blood clotting.

Atherosclerosis. A build up of fatty material and other deposits inside the coronary arteries, which leads to coronary heart disease.²

Automated External Defibrillator (AED). An electronic device that helps reestablish normal contraction rhythms in a malfunctioning heart.¹

B
Balloon Angioplasty. A procedure used to expand narrowed arteries. A catheter with a deflated balloon on its tip is passed into the narrowed artery segment. The balloon is inflated, widening the narrowed artery. Then the balloon is deflated and the catheter is removed.¹

Beta Blocker. A medicine used to treat high blood pressure and other heart conditions by reducing the heart rate and the heart’s output of blood.¹

Blood Cholesterol. A fat-like substance found in the blood that is deposited along the inside of the blood vessels, making the walls narrower. These deposits may build up or rupture and block blood flow leading to a heart attack or stroke.³

Blood Pressure. The force or pressure needed by the heart to pump blood in the arteries.¹

Body Mass Index (BMI). A measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. BMI is found by dividing weight in pounds by height in inches squared, and multiplying that number by 703 ([weight/inches2] x 703). ¹

Bypass Surgery. A procedure to allow blood flow to the heart muscle even with blocked arteries. The surgery uses a healthy blood vessel from a leg or other limb and uses it to re-route blood around the diseased or blocked area. After coronary bypass surgery, normal blood flow is restored.⁴

C
Cardiovascular. Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels. Cardiovascular disease refers to diseases of the cardiovascular system, or circulatory system. ¹

Chronic Disease. An impairment or deviation from the normal functioning of the human body, and having one or more of these characteristics: being permanent, leaving disability, caused by nonreversible pathological alterations, requiring special patient education for rehabilitation, and/or requiring a long period of supervision or care.⁵

Coronary Heart Disease. A disease in which there is a blockage of the coronary arteries, which take blood to the heart muscle. The disease is usually caused by atherosclerosis, a build up of fatty material and other deposits inside the coronary arteries. Coronary heart disease may cause chest pain and heart attacks.²

D
Diabetes. The inability of the body to produce or respond properly to insulin. The body needs insulin to convert sugar and starch into the energy needed in daily life. Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, is defined as a fasting blood glucose of 126 mg/dL or more, measured on two occasions.¹

Disparity. The condition or fact of being unequal, as in age, rank, or degree.⁶

Dysphagia. Difficulty chewing and swallowing food that occurs when one side of the mouth is weak due to stroke or other brain injury. One or both sides of the mouth can lack feeling, increasing the risk of choking.¹

E
Emergency Department (ED) Encounters. The care of a patient while in the Emergency Department.

H
Heart Failure. Also known as Congestive Heart Failure, this disease occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Coronary Heart Disease or High Blood Pressure may cause the heart to pump inefficiently.⁷

Hemorrhagic Stroke. The injury to brain cells caused by ruptured blood vessels in the brain. Cerebral hemorrhages bleed inside the brain; subarachnoid hemorrhages bleed into the space between the brain and the skull.¹

High Blood Pressure. A chronic increase in blood pressure above its normal range. High Blood Pressure is classified as a systolic, or contracting, pressure of 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic, or resting, pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher.¹ Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, blindness or kidney failure. Also known as hypertension.⁸

High Blood Cholesterol. With high cholesterol, fat is deposited along the blood vessel walls, which makes it difficult for blood to flow. The lack of blood flow can cause a heart attack or stroke.³ Cholesterol levels under 200 mg/dL are desirable, while levels of 200-239 mg/dL are borderline-high risk, and those over 240 mg/dL are high risk.⁹

Hypertension. See High Blood Pressure.¹

I
Ischemic Stroke. The death of or injury to brain cells caused when a blood clot or other particle blocks an artery in the brain.¹

L
Lipid. A fatty substance that will not dissolve in blood. ¹

M
Morbidity. A disease or the rate of disease within a population. Morbidity also refers to negative effects caused by a treatment.¹⁰

Mortality. The total number of deaths from a given disease in a population during a certain amount of time, usually a year.¹

O
Obesity. The condition of being significantly overweight. Defined as a body mass index of 30 or greater, or about 30 pounds or more over ideal body weight. BMI is found by dividing weight in pounds by height in inches squared, and multiplying that number by 703 ([weight/inches2] x 703).¹

Overt Symptoms. Symptoms that can be observed or that show themselves because of the disease.

R
Rehabilitation. A process to restore mental and/or physical abilities lost to injury or disease, in order to function in a normal or near-normal way.¹¹

Rheumatic Heart Disease. Damage done to the heart, particularly the heart valves, by an infection.¹

Risk Factor. An element or condition involving certain hazards or dangers. When referring to the heart and blood vessels, a positive risk factor is associated with an increased chance of developing cardiovascular disease including stroke. A negative risk factor is associated with a reduced chance of developing heart and blood vessel disease.¹

S
Stroke. A brain cell injury caused by an insufficient supply of blood to part of the brain. Results in a loss of normal functioning.¹

V
Ventricular Function Assessment. An evaluation of the function of the ventricles, the two lower chambers of the heart.¹

Sources

1. American Heart Association. (2003). Heart Disease and Stroke Facts.
2. National Cancer Institute. (2011). Coronary Heart Disease. Retrieved March 16, 2011 from http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=439317.
3. Mayo Clinic. (2010). High blood cholesterol. Retrieved March 16, 2011 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-cholesterol/DS00178.
4. Mayo Clinic. (2010). Coronary Bypass Surgery. Retrieved March 16, 2011 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coronary-bypass-surgery/MY00087.
5. Utah Code, 26.5.1, 1981.
6. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2003). National Healthcare Disparities Report, 2003. Retrieved March 16, 2011 from http://www.ahrq.gov/QUAL/nhdr03/nhdrsum03.htm.
7. Mayo Clinic. (2010). Heart Failure. Retrieved March 16, 2011 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-failure/ds00061.
8. American Heart Association. (2011). What is High Blood Pressure. Retrieved March 16, 2011 from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/AboutHighBloodPressure/What-is-High-Blood-Pressure_UCM_301759_Article.jsp.
9. American Heart Association. (2011). What your cholesterol levels mean. Retrieved March 16, 2011 from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/What-Your-Cholesterol-Levels-Mean_UCM_305562_Article.jsp.
10. National Cancer Institute. (2011). Morbidity. Retrieved March 16, 2011 from www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=44514.
11. National Cancer Institute. (2011). Rehabilitation. Retrieved March 16, 2011 from http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=441257