RT-CARDIO

• Aneurysm 

  A localized abnormal dilation of a blood vessel, usually an artery, caused by weakness of the vessel wall; may eventually burst
• Angina pectoris

  A feeling of constriction around the heart or pain that the left arm or shoulder, usually brought on by exertion; caused by may radiate to insufficient blood supply to the heart
• Arrhythmia 

  Any abnormality in the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat (literally "without rhythm"; note doubled r). Also called dysrhythmia.
• Atherosclerosis 

  The development of fatty, fibrous patches (plaques) in the lining of arteries, causing narrowing of the lumen and hardening of the vessel wall. The most common form of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Root ather/o means "porridge" or "gruel."
• Bradycardia 

  A slow heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute
• Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

  Sudden damage to the brain resulting from reduction of blood flow. Causes include atherosclerosis, embolism, thrombosis, or hemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm; commonly called stroke. 
• Clubbing 

  Enlargement of the ends of the fingers and toes caused by growth of the soft tissue around the nails. Seen in a variety of diseases in which there is poor peripheral circulation.
• Cyanosis 

  Bluish discoloration of the skin caused by lack of oxygen
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

  Thrombophlebitis involving the deep veins
• Diaphoresis 

  Profuse sweating
• Dissecting aneurysm 

  An aneurysm in which blood enters the arterial wall and separates the layers. Usually involves the aorta 
• Dyslipidemia 

  Disorder in serum lipid levels, which is an important factor in development of atherosclerosis. Includes hyperlipidemia (high lipids), hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides)
• Dyspnea 

  Difficult or labored breathing (-pnea)
• Edema 

  Swelling of body tissues caused by the presence of excess fluid. Causes include cardiovascular disturbances, kidney failure, inflammation, and malnutrition.
• Embolism 

  Obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot or other matter carried in the circulation
• Embolus 

  A mass carried in the circulation. Usually a blood clot, but may also be air, fat, bacteria, or other solid matter from within or from outside the body.
• Fibrillation 

  Spontaneous, quivering, and ineffectual contraction of muscle fibers, as in the atria or the ventricles
• Heart block

  An interference in the conduction system of the heart resulting in arrhythmia. The condition is classified in order of increasing severity as first-, second-, or third-degree heart block. Block in a bundle branch is designated as a left or right bundle branch block (BBB).
• Heart failure 

  A condition caused by the inability of the heart to maintain adequate circulation of blood
• Hemorrhoid 

  A varicose vein in the rectum
• Hypertension 

  A condition of higher-than-normal blood pressure. Essential (primary, idiopathic) hypertension has no known cause.
• Infarct 

  An area of localized necrosis (death) of tissue resulting from a blockage or a narrowing of the artery that supplies the area
• Murmur 

  An abnormal heart sound
• Ischemia 

  Local deficiency of blood supply caused by obstruction of the circulation (root hem/o)
• Myocardial infarction (MI)

  Localized necrosis (death) of cardiac muscle tissue resulting from blockage or narrowing of the coronary artery that supplies that area. Myocardial infarction is usually caused by formation of a thrombus (clot) in a vessel 
• Occlusion 

  A closing off or obstruction, as of a vessel
• Patent ductus arteriosus 

  Persistence of the ductus arteriosus after birth. The ductus arteriosus is a vessel that connects the pulmonary artery to the descending aorta in the fetus to bypass the lungs.
• Phlebitis 

  Inflammation of a vein
• Plaque 

  A patch. With regard to the cardiovascular system, a deposit of fatty material and other substances on a vessel wall impedes blood flow and may block the vessel. Atheromatous plaque.
• Rheumatic heart disease

  Damage to heart valves after infection with a type of streptococcus (group A hemolytic streptococcus). The antibodies produced in response to the infection produce scarring of the valves, usually the mitral valve.
• Shock

  Circulatory failure resulting in inadequate supply of blood to the heart. Cardiogenic shock is caused by heart failure; hypovolemic shock is caused by a loss of blood volume; septic shock is caused by bacterial infection.
• Stenosis 

  Constriction or narrowing of an opening
• Stroke 

  Cerebrovascular Accident
• Syncope 

  A temporary loss of consciousness caused by inadequate blood flow to the brain; fainting
• Tachycardia 

  An abnormally rapid heart rate, usually over 100 beats per minute
• Thrombophlebitis 

  Inflammation of a vein associated with formation of a blood clot
• Thrombosis 

  Development of a blood clot within a vessel
• Thrombus 

  A blood clot that forms within a blood vessel (root thromb/o)
• Varicose vein

  A twisted and swollen vein resulting from breakdown of the valves, pooling of blood, and chronic dilatation of the vessel (root varic/o); also called varix or varicosity 
• Angioplasty 

  A procedure that reopens a narrowed vessel and restores blood flow. Commonly accomplished by surgically removing plaque, inflating a balloon within the vessel, or installing a device (stent) to keep the vessel open.