Term | Definition |
acute coronary syndrome | collection of symptoms that occur when a coronary artery is suddenly blocked |
angina pectoris | acute chest pain on physical or emotional exertion due to inadequate oxygen supply to the myocardium |
atherosclerosis | condition characterized by a buildup of fatty plaque and loss of elasticity of the walls of the arteries |
coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) | surgical procedure performed to restore blood flow to the myocardium by using a section of the saphenous vein or internal mammary artery to go around the obstructed coronary artery |
coronary artery disease (CAD) | narrowing of the coronary arteries |
coronary heart disease | narrowing of the coronary arteries that results in chest pain on exertion |
glycoprotein IIb/IIIa | enzyme that binds fibrinogen and von Willebrand's factor to begin platelet aggregation and blood coagulation |
myocardial infarctions (MIs) | blood clot blocking a portion of a coronary artery that causes necrosis of cardiac muscle |
percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) | procedures by which obstructions in coronary arteries are removed |
plaque | fatty material that builds up in the lining of blood vessels and may lead to hypertension, stroke, myocardial infarction, or angina |
silent angina | partial blockage of a coronary artery that does not cause chest pain |
stable angina | type of angina that occurs in a predictable pattern, usually relieved by rest |
unstable angina | severe angina that occurs frequently and that is not relieved by rest |
vasospastic (Prinzmetal's) angina | type of angina in which the decreased myocardial blood flow is caused by spasms of the coronary arteries |
beta-adrenergic antagonists | decrease the heart rate and myocardial contractility; reduce cardiac output and workload |
calcium channel blockers | dilate arterial smooth muscle, reducing BP and decreasing cardiac workload; some also decrease the heart rate, reducing the workload on the heart, and dilate the coronary arteries |
organic nitrates | dilate veins, reducing the amount of blood returning to the heart; dilate the coronary arteries, bringing more blood to the myocardium |