Heart Disease Focus Dictionary

heart attack: (Also known as a myocardial infarction) is the death of heart muscle from the sudden blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot.

heart block: A delay or complete block of the electrical impulse as it travels from the sinus node to the ventricles.

heart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is used narrowly and incorrectly as a synonym for coronary artery disease. Heart disease is synonymous with cardiac disease but not with cardiovascular disease which is any disease of the heart or blood vessels.

heart failure: The inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically, failure of the heart to pump blood with normal efficiency.

hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A genetic disorder of the heart characterized by increased thickness (hypertrophy) of the wall of the left ventricle, the largest of the four chambers of the heart.

implantation of permanent pacemaker or internal cardioverter defibrillator: An implanted device that paces the heart to provide a reliable heartbeat.