Lesson 3 (Chapter 4: Testing and Treatment of the Cardiovascular System) Flashcards
Angiography
A radiographic (x-ray) examination of blood vessels after injection of a contrast medium into the bloodstream.
Cardiac Catheterization (Cath)
Inserts a thin, hollow tube into a large blood vessel that leads to the heart to determine how well the heart is functioning.
Doppler Ultrasound
Uses sound waves to measure blood flow in vessels.
Echocardiography (echo)
Uses sound waves to produce images of the heart.
Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG)
Records the electrical activity of the heart.
Holter Monitor
A compact ECG, records abnormal heart rhythms over a 24-hour period.
Anticoagulants
Commonly called “blood thinners,” slow blood coagulation and prevent new clots from forming.
Antiarrhythmics
Drugs used to suppress abnormal rhythms of the heart.
Antihypertensives
A class of drugs used to treat hypertension.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs
Drugs that reduce the undesirable cholesterol levels in the blood.
Diuretics
Commonly called “water pills,” treat hypertension and heart failure by increasing the excretion of water from the body.
Thrombolytics
Dugs such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and streptokinase. They are administered to some patients having a heart attack or stroke to dissolve clots quickly and restore blood flow.
Angioplasty
Involves inserting a balloon-tipped catheter into a blocked blood vessel, then inflating the balloon to open the vessel and restore blood flow. A metal mesh tube (stent) is often permanently placed into the artery or vein to keep it open.
Cardiac Ablation
Threads a flexible catheter through blood vessels into the heart to destroy (ablate) abnormal tissue that triggers arrhythmias.
Carotid Endarterectomy
A procedure to remove a plaque deposit that is clogging a carotid artery.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
A segment of healthy blood vessel from another part of the body is connected to a coronary artery to make a detour around a blockage.
Pacemaker
A device that is implanted under the skin to shock the heart electronically into a regular rhythm.
