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Medical Glossary
Home > Heart Health > Medical Glossary
Adrenalin (Epinephrine)
A hormone, which is excreted from the Adrenal gland. It is known as “stress” hormone, because its secretion increases during stress and exertion. It causes changes in the body, such as accelerated pulse rate, dilatation of the pupils, and increased blood flow into the muscles of the lower extremities. It is also dubbed danger hormone, and indeed the physical changes effected by it prepare the body to react in situations of threat (for example pumping more blood to the leg muscles prepares the body to flight). Used medically, the hormone serves for resuscitation, in Asthma (dilates bronchi), in surgery (constricts blood vessels and reduces bleeding) and more.
Cardio-vascular

Pertaining to heart and blood vessel system.

Cardiology

Research of cardiac function. Science concerned with the anatomy, functionality and diseases or pathological conditions of the heart.

Cyanosis

Bluish or livid color of the skin and the mucous membranes due to low oxygen content of the blood.

This is particularly conspicuous in the lips and nails. Cyanosis can appear in various medical conditions, for which the underlying course is low oxygen saturation of the blood, as for example lung diseases, heart defects, in high geographic regions and more.

Cyanosis in inner parts of the lips (that are not exposed to cold), cheeks, tongue and conjunctiva of the eyes, can evidence reduced oxygen saturation of blood secondary to pulmonary or cardiac disease.

Cyanosis appearing in external parts only, such as finger tips, the tip of the nose or the outer parts of the lips can be due to decreased blood flow into the skin because of its exposure to low temperature.

Embolus

A particle that wanders with the blood stream from the site where it is created to another remote site, where it can cause arterial occlusion. Embolus can consist of thrombus (blood clot), air, fat and more.

Hypotension

Low blood pressure (less than 90/50).

Low blood pressure often does not reflect any medical problem, unless it is caused by another medical condition, for example myocardial infarction.

Sometimes, people with low blood pressure may suffer from weakness and even loss of consciousness when additional drop of blood pressure occurs, for instance during particularly hot weather. Abundant drinking can prevent these symptoms.

Low blood pressure does not constitute protection from future development of hypertension.

Nuclear cardiology

Research and diagnosis of cardiac diseases by means of intravenous injection of radioactive substances enabling cardiac imaging by a computer-controlled gamma camera.

In cardiology, this method serves for Thalium scanning and provides information about Coronary arteries and for MUGA scanning, by which cardiac function can be determined.

Orthostatic hypotension

Blood pressure drop that occurs during a sudden change of position from supine to sitting or upright.

This is more frequent in patients treated with antihypertensive drugs.

Symptoms such as sudden weakness, dizziness, sensation of fainting and real syncope may occur.

Pulmonary embolism (PE)

Pulmonary embolism is a condition, in which a thrombus, air bubble, fat from a fractured bone or particles of other materials (such as lipid substances from an atherosclerotic plaque) reach by the way of blood circulation any pulmonary blood vessel and occlude it.

As a result, respiration turns less efficient. Air can enter the lungs freely, but oxygenation (enrichment of blood with oxygen) is impaired because of compromised blood flow.
This is an emergency situation requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms may include: sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid pulse rate, low blood pressure, cough (sometimes bloody cough) and more.

In some instances, pulmonary embolism can have no symptoms or only unspecific manifestations, which makes the proper diagnosis difficult.
The majority of pulmonary emboli stem from deep veins of the lower extremities.

Factors increasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis are: prolonged immobility (as, for example, during long distance flights), recent surgical procedures, malignant diseases, trauma of lower extremities, previous history of thrombosis in the lower extremities and congenital or acquired hypercoagulability states.

Syncope (fainting)

Loss of consciousness for a short time caused by an acute transient drop of blood flow to the brain.

Causes can vary and include: standing for a long time, blood pressure drop due to drugs, very rapid or very slow heart rhythm disorders or certain emotional situations.

Usually, after falling or change to a supine position, the cerebral blood flow improves and recovery takes place.

Tamponade

A condition, in which fluid (blood or other fluid) accumulates in the Pericardium, the space between the heart and the membrane enveloping it.

Such accumulation of fluid, if it is rapid and acute, exerts pressure on the heart, interferes with the contraction and relaxation process and can constitute an emergency.

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