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This is not an exhaustive list, but includes some of the terminology commonly used in the assessment and treatment of cardiac disorders. To view this glossary simply click on the corresponding letter below:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Valve disease
Heart valve disease occurs when the heart valves do not work the way they should. The heart valves lie at the exit of each of the four heart chambers and maintain one-way blood flow through your heart. The four heart valves make sure that blood always flows freely in a forward direction and that there is no backward leakage.
Valvular insufficiency
Also called regurgitation, incompetence or "leaky valve", this occurs when a valve does not close tightly. If the valves do not seal, some blood will leak backwards across the valve. As the leak worsens, the heart has to work harder to make up for the leaky valve, and less blood may flow to the rest of the body
Valvular stenosis
Occurs when a valve opening is smaller than normal due to stiff or fused leaflets. The narrowed opening may make the heart work very hard to pump blood through it. This can lead to heart failure and other symptoms
Vascular disease
Any condition that affects the circulatory system. As the heart beats, it pumps blood through a system of blood vessels called the circulatory system. The vessels are elastic tubes that carry blood to every part of the body. Arteries carry blood away from the heart while veins return it. Diseases range from diseases of the arteries, veins and lymph vessels to blood disorders that affect circulation.
Ventricular fibrillation
Very rapid uncoordinated fluttering contractions of the ventricles of the heart resulting in loss of synchronization between heartbeat and pulse beat. Abbreviations: VF, V-fib
