 | Term | Definition |
| |
arrhythmia (disrrhythmia) |
Any change from normal heart rate or rhythm. |
| |
bradycardia |
Slow heart rate (< 60 bpm). |
| |
tachycardia |
Fast heart rate (> 100 bpm). |
| |
murmur |
Indicates defect in heart valve- valves failing to close properly, causing gurgling or hissing sound. |
| |
mitral valve prolapse |
Mitral valve closes imperfectly; response to stress. Symptoms: fatigue, palpitations, headache, chest pain, anxiety. |
| |
palpitations |
Heart feels like it is racing. |
| |
heart block |
Disturbance in electrical conductivity of the heartbeat. |
| |
infectious disease of the heart |
Cause= bacteria or virus. Treatment= antibiotics. |
| |
pericarditis |
Inflammation of outer membrane covering the heart. Symptoms are chest pain, cough, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), tachycardia, and fever. |
| |
myocarditis |
Inflammation of the heart muscle- symptoms the same as pericarditis. |
| |
endocarditis |
Inflammation of the membrane that lines heart and covers the valves, causes rough spots in the endocardium which may lead to the development of a throumbus. |
| |
angina pectoris |
Chest pain, caused by lack of oxygen to the heart muscle. Treat with nitroglycerin to dililate coronary arteries. |
| |
myocardial infarction |
MI or heart attack. Lack of blood supply to myocardium causes damage. Due to blockage of coronary artery or blood clot atherosclerosis (plaque build-up on arterial walls) or arteriosclerosis (loss of elasticity and thickening of wall). Amound of damage depends on size of area deprived of oxygen. Symptoms: severe chest pain radiating to left shoulder,arm, neck, and jaw, nausea, diaphoesis, and dyspnea. Immediate medical attention is critical. Rx: bedrest, meds, morphine for pain, tPA to dissolve clot. Anticoagulant therapy to prevent further clots from forming. Angioplaysty and by-pass surgery may be necessary. |
| |
congestive heart failure |
Ventricles unable to contract effectively and blood pools in the heart. Edema in lower extremities. Blood backs up into lungs. Rx. Drugs to strengthen heartbeat (digoxin) and diuretics to reduce fluid. |
| Add or remove terms from this set |
