Chapter 11 Glossary

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Glossary

Chapter 11

Angina pectoris Chest pain associated with coronary heart disease.

Angioplasty A procedure in which a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted, then inflated, to widen the inner lumen of one or more arteries.

Arrhythmias Irregular heart rhythms.

Atherosclerosis Fatty cholesterol deposits in the walls of the arteries leading to plaque formation.

Blood lipids (fats) Cholesterol and triglycerides.

Blood pressure A measure of the force exerted against the walls of the vessels by the blood flowing through them.

Cardiovascular diseases The array of conditions that affect the heart and the blood vessels.

Catecholamines “Fight-or-flight” hormones, including epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Cholesterol A waxy substance, technically a steroid alcohol, found only in animal fats and oils; used in making cell membranes, as a building block for some hormones, in the fatty sheath around nerve fibers, and in other necessary substances.

Chylomicron Triglyceride-transporting molecules.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) Condition in which the arteries that supply the heart muscle with oxygen and nutrients are narrowed by fatty deposits, such as cholesterol and triglycerides.

Cruciferous vegetables Plants that produce cross-shaped leaves (cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi); they seem to have a protective effect against cancer.

Diabetes mellitus A disease in which the body doesn’t produce or utilize insulin properly.

Diastolic blood pressure Pressure exerted by blood against walls of arteries during relaxation phase (diastole) of the heart; lower of the two numbers in blood pressure readings.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) A recording of the electrical activity of the heart.

Exercise A type of physical activity that requires planned, structured, and repetitive bodily movement with the intent of improving or maintaining one or more components of physical fitness.

Glucose intolerance A condition characterized by slightly elevated blood glucose levels.

High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) Cholesterol-transporting molecules in the blood that help clear cholesterol from the blood; also called “good” cholesterol.

Homocysteine An amino acid that, when allowed to accumulate in the blood, may lead to plaque formation and blockage of arteries.

Hypertension Chronically elevated blood pressure.

Hypotension Low blood pressure.

Insulin Hormone secreted by the pancreas; essential for proper metabolism of blood glucose (sugar) and maintenance of blood glucose level.

Insulin resistance The inability of the cells to respond appropriately to insulin.

Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) Cholesterol-transporting molecules in the blood that tend to increase blood cholesterol; also called “bad” cholesterol.

Metabolic syndrome See Syndrome X.

Myocardial infarction Heart attack; damage to or death of an area of the heart muscle as a result of an obstructed artery to that area.

Myocardium Heart muscle.

Peripheral vascular disease Narrowing of the peripheral blood vessels (excludes the cerebral and coronary arteries).

Reverse cholesterol transport A process in which HDL molecules attract cholesterol and carry it to the liver, where it is changed to bile and eventually excreted in the stool.

Risk factors Lifestyle and genetic variables that may lead to disease.

Stress electrocardiogram An exercise test during which the workload is gradually increased (until the subject reaches maximal fatigue) with blood pressure and 12-lead electrocardiographic monitoring throughout the test.

Syndrome X An array of metabolic abnormalities that contribute to the development of atherosclerosis triggered by insulin resistance. These conditions include low HDL-cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, and an increased blood clotting mechanism.

Systolic blood pressure Pressure exerted by blood against walls of arteries during forceful contraction (systole) of the heart; higher of the two numbers in blood pressure readings.

Triglycerides Fats formed by glycerol and three fatty acids.

Type I diabetes Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), a condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Also known as “juvenile diabetes.”

Type II diabetes Non-insulin–dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), a condition in which insulin is not processed properly. Also known as “adult-onset diabetes.”

Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) Triglyceride-, cholesterol-, and phospholipid-transporting molecules in the blood that tend to increase blood cholesterol.

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© 2003 DrWoolard.com

Last changed: September 03, 2004

Angina pectoris	Chest pain associated with coronary heart disease.
Angioplasty	A procedure in which a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted, then inflated, to widen the inner lumen of one or more arteries.
Arrhythmias	Irregular heart rhythms.
Atherosclerosis	Fatty cholesterol deposits in the walls of the arteries leading to plaque formation.
Blood lipids (fats)	Cholesterol and triglycerides.
Blood pressure	A measure of the force exerted against the walls of the vessels by the blood flowing through them.
Cardiovascular diseases	The array of conditions that affect the heart and the blood vessels.
Catecholamines	“Fight-or-flight” hormones, including epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Cholesterol	A waxy substance, technically a steroid alcohol, found only in animal fats and oils; used in making cell membranes, as a building block for some hormones, in the fatty sheath around nerve fibers, and in other necessary substances.
Chylomicron	Triglyceride-transporting molecules.
Coronary heart disease (CHD)	Condition in which the arteries that supply the heart muscle with oxygen and nutrients are narrowed by fatty deposits, such as cholesterol and triglycerides.
Cruciferous vegetables	Plants that produce cross-shaped leaves (cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi); they seem to have a protective effect against cancer.
Diabetes mellitus	A disease in which the body doesn’t produce or utilize insulin properly.
Diastolic blood pressure	Pressure exerted by blood against walls of arteries during relaxation phase (diastole) of the heart; lower of the two numbers in blood pressure readings.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)	A recording of the electrical activity of the heart.
Exercise	A type of physical activity that requires planned, structured, and repetitive bodily movement with the intent of improving or maintaining one or more components of physical fitness.
Glucose intolerance	A condition characterized by slightly elevated blood glucose levels.
High-density lipoproteins (HDLs)	Cholesterol-transporting molecules in the blood that help clear cholesterol from the blood; also called “good” cholesterol.
Homocysteine	An amino acid that, when allowed to accumulate in the blood, may lead to plaque formation and blockage of arteries.
Hypertension	Chronically elevated blood pressure.
Hypotension	Low blood pressure.
Insulin	Hormone secreted by the pancreas; essential for proper metabolism of blood glucose (sugar) and maintenance of blood glucose level.
Insulin resistance	The inability of the cells to respond appropriately to insulin.
Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs)	Cholesterol-transporting molecules in the blood that tend to increase blood cholesterol; also called “bad” cholesterol.
Metabolic syndrome	See Syndrome X.
Myocardial infarction	Heart attack; damage to or death of an area of the heart muscle as a result of an obstructed artery to that area.
Myocardium	Heart muscle.
Peripheral vascular disease	Narrowing of the peripheral blood vessels (excludes the cerebral and coronary arteries).
Reverse cholesterol transport	A process in which HDL molecules attract cholesterol and carry it to the liver, where it is changed to bile and eventually excreted in the stool.
Risk factors	Lifestyle and genetic variables that may lead to disease.
Stress electrocardiogram	An exercise test during which the workload is gradually increased (until the subject reaches maximal fatigue) with blood pressure and 12-lead electrocardiographic monitoring throughout the test.
Syndrome X	An array of metabolic abnormalities that contribute to the development of atherosclerosis triggered by insulin resistance. These conditions include low HDL-cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, and an increased blood clotting mechanism.
Systolic blood pressure	Pressure exerted by blood against walls of arteries during forceful contraction (systole) of the heart; higher of the two numbers in blood pressure readings.
Triglycerides	Fats formed by glycerol and three fatty acids.
Type I diabetes	Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), a condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Also known as “juvenile diabetes.”
Type II diabetes	Non-insulin–dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), a condition in which insulin is not processed properly. Also known as “adult-onset diabetes.”
Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs)	Triglyceride-, cholesterol-, and phospholipid-transporting molecules in the blood that tend to increase blood cholesterol.