ACE inhibitor
Antihypertensive drug that blocks the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, causing blood vessels to dilate
Angiography
X-ray imaging of blood vessels after injection of contrast material
Beta-blocker
Drug that blocks the action of epinephrine, slowing the heartbeat and reducing the workload of the heart
Cardiac catheterization
Guidance of a thin, flexible tube into the heart through a vein or artery to detect pressure and patterns of blood flow in the heart
Cardiac MRI
Production of images of the heart with the use of magnetic waves
Cardioversion
use of low, brief discharges of electricity to treat atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and supraventricular tachycardia
Catheter ablation
Brief delivery of radiofrequency energy to destroy areas of heart tissue that may be causing arrhythmias
Coronary artery bypass grafting
Anastomosis of arteries and veins to coronary arteries as a means of detouring around blockages
Defibrillation
Application of brief discharges of electricity across the chest to stop dysrhythmias
Digoxin
Drug used to strengthen and regulate the heartbeat
Doppler ultrasound
Use of sound waves to measure blood flow in blood vessels
Echocardiography
Use of high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the structure and movement of the heart
Electrocardiography
Recording of electricity flowing through the heart
Endarterectomy
Surgical removal of plaque from the inner lining of an artery
Extracorporeal circulation
Diversion of blood from the heart and lungs by a heart-lung machine while the heart is repaired
Holter monitoring
An ECG device worn over a 24-hour period to detect cardiac arrhythmias
Left ventricular assist device
A booster pump implanted in the abdomen with a cannula (tube) inserted into the left ventricle that pumps blood out of the heart to all parts of the body
Lipid tests
Measurement of cholesterol and triglycerides in a blood sample
Nitroglycerin
A vasodilator that increases coronary blood flow and lowers blood pressure
Percutaneous coronary intervention
Insertion of a balloon-tipped catheter into a coronary artery to open the artery
Positron emission tomography
Imaging modality that shows blood flow and myocardial function after uptake of radioactive glucose
Statins
Drugs used to lower cholesterol in the bloodstream
Stress test
An exercise tolerance test that reveals the heart's response to physical exertion
Thallium-201 scan
Measurement of the concentration of a radioactive element to get information about blood supply to heart muscle
Thrombolytic therapy
Injection of drugs to dissolve clots into the bloodstream of a patient with coronary thrombosis
Computed tomography angiography
Three-dimensional x-ray images of the heart and coronary arteries made with the use of computed tomography
Technetium Tc99m sestamibi scan
A radioactive tracer compound injected intravenously and taken up in cardiac tissue, where it is detected by means of scanning