Heart Tests/Devices
What does ECG/EKG stand for?
Electrocardiogram: test that measures the electrical activity of your heart. It shows how fast your heart is beating, whether the rhythm is steady or irregular, and can help detect heart problems like heart attacks, arrhythmias, or other heart conditions.
What does CHF stand for? (Hint: F = failure)
CHF: Congestive Heart Failure
Condition where the heart doesn't pump blood as well as it should. Causes fluid to build up in the lungs, legs, or other parts of the body, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling.
Medical term for a heart attack?
MI: Myocardial Infarction
Blood flow to part of the heart is blocked, usually by a blood clot. This causes damage to the heart muscle and can be life-threatening if not treated quickly.
What's HTN?
HTN: Hypertension
High blood pressure—when the force of blood against the artery walls is too high.
What device is used to control abnormal heart rhythms?
Pacemaker: small medical device placed in the chest to help control abnormal heart rhythms. It sends electrical signals to the heart to keep it beating at a normal rate and rhythm, especially if it's too slow or irregular.
This disease is caused by plaque buildup in the arteries that supply the heart muscle, limiting blood flow.
CAD: Coronary Artery Disease
What does CABG stand for?
CABG: Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
Procedure where a surgeon uses a blood vessel from another part of the body to bypass a blocked heart artery, improving blood flow to the heart.
What is hyperlipidemia?
Hyperlipidemia: Too much fat or cholesterol in the blood, increasing the risk of heart disease.
What is Ejection Fraction? (Hint: think about pumping)
Test for measurement of percentage of blood leaving the heart each time it contracts. Normally 55-70%
Word for disease of heart muscle?
Cardiomyopathy: Disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. It can lead to heart failure and may cause symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, or swelling.
Stent
PVC: Premature Ventricular Contraction
An early heartbeat that starts in the heart's lower chambers (ventricles) and can feel like a flutter or skipped beat.
What test uses sound waves to make images of the heart through/across the chest wall?
TTE: Trans Thoracic Echocardiogram
A non-invasive ultrasound test that uses sound waves to create images of the heart through the chest wall. It helps doctors see the heart’s size, shape, movement, and how well it's pumping blood.
What does AFib mean?
Atrial Fibrillation: An irregular and often fast heart rhythm that starts in the upper chambers of the heart (atria). It can cause symptoms like a racing heartbeat, dizziness, and fatigue, and increases the risk of stroke and heart failure.
What's Atherosclerosis?
The name of the medications that help prevent dangerous blood clots and are commonly used in people with atrial fibrillation or after surgery.
Anticoagulants
What's a Holter Monitor?
A portable device used to continuously monitor the heart's electrical activity for 24 to 48 hours to assess arrythmias.
What's Endocardial Fibroelastosis? (Hint: break it down, elastosis..?)
Rare condition involves thickening of endocardium (inner lining of heart), often causing heart failure, especially in children.
What is Angina? (Hint: symptom due to reduced blood flow to the heart)
Angina: Chest pain or discomfort due to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.
You can check this by looking at the neck veins, what does JVP stand for?
JVP: Jugular Venous Pressure
Pressure in the jugular vein, which reflects the amount of blood returning to the heart and how well the heart is pumping. It’s often checked by looking at the neck veins and can help diagnose heart failure or fluid overload.