Welcome to the North Kansas City Hospital Cardiac Care glossary. Here you'll find links to a long list of cardiac care terms to help you get familiar with causes, care, symptoms and more.

Angina
Angina is a specific type of chest discomfort caused by inadequate blood flow through the blood vessels (coronary vessels) of the heart muscle (myocardium). read more

Angioplasty
Angioplasty is a medical procedure to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels of the heart. These blood vessels are called the coronary arteries. read more

Arrhythmia
An arrhythmia is any disorder of your heart rate or heart rhythm, such as beating too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly. read more

Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty material collects along the walls of arteries. This fatty material thickens, hardens, and may eventually block the arteries. read more

Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization involves passing a catheter (a thin flexible tube) into the right or left side of the heart. In general, this procedure is performed to obtain diagnostic information about the heart or its blood vessels or to provide treatment in certain types of heart conditions. read more

Congenital heart disease
Congenital heart disease refers to a problem with the heart's structure and function due to abnormal heart development before birth. Congenital means present at birth. read more

Coronary artery disease
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. CHD is also called coronary artery disease. read more

Defibrillation
An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a device designed to quickly detect a life-threatening, rapid heartbeat coming from the bottom chamber of the heart. The aim is to convert an abnormal rhythm back to normal by delivering an electrical shock to the heart. This action is called defibrillation. read more

Endocarditis
Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inside lining of the heart chambers and heart valves (endocardium). read more

EKG /ECG
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. read more

Heart attack
A heart attack is when low blood flow causes the heart to starve for oxygen. Heart muscle dies or becomes permanently damaged. Your doctor calls this a myocardial infarction. read more

Heart bypass surgery
This surgery is done to bypass clogged arteries supplying the heart. read more

Heart palpitation
Palpitations are heartbeat sensations that feel like your heart is pounding or racing. You may simply have an unpleasant awareness of your own heartbeat, or you may feel skipped or stopped beats. The heart's rhythm may be normal or abnormal. Palpitations can be felt in your chest, throat, or neck. read more

Heart valve surgery
Heart valve surgery is used to repair or replace diseased heart valves. read more

Holter monitor
A Holter monitor is a machine that continuously records the heart's rhythms. The monitor is usually worn for 24 hours during normal activity.  See also ECG. read more

Hypertension
Hypertension means high blood pressure. read more

Myocardial infarction
A myocardial infarction, or heart attack, is when low blood flow causes the heart to starve for oxygen. Heart muscle dies or becomes permanently damaged. read more

Open-heart surgery
Open-heart surgery is any surgery where the chest is opened and surgery is performed on the heart. The term "open" refers to the chest, not the heart itself. The heart may or may not be opened, depending on the type of surgery. read more

Pacemaker
A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device that helps the heart beat regularly and at an appropriate rate. read more

Stent
A stent is a tiny tube placed into an artery to hold the structure open. read more