Hypertension Glossary of Terms

ARCHIVED 2010-01-03, DATE APPROXIMATE · VERSION 20100103_rev01 · COMPARED WITH 20081230_rev01

Full text changes — 20081230_rev01 to 20100103_rev01

COLOUR MARKS THE SEVERITY OF A FLAGGED CLAUSE · + AND − MARK ADDED AND REMOVED

11Font Size
22
3## Hypertension: Glossary of Terms
4
5### Hypertension: Glossary of Terms
6
73**Angina:** chest pain
84
9**Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors:** one kind of medication used to treat hypertension by preventing the body from making the chemical angiotensin II. This chemical causes blood vessels to narrow, which can raise blood pressure. ACE inhibitors allow the vessels to expand, allowing more blood to flow to the heart, which, in turn, lowers blood pressure. These medications are also used to treat congestive heart failure, to protect the kidneys in people with diabetes, and to treat people who have had a heart attack.
5**Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors:** one kind of medication used to treat high blood pressure by preventing the body from making the chemical angiotensin II. This chemical causes blood vessels to narrow, which can raise blood pressure. ACE inhibitors allow the vessels to expand, allowing more blood to flow to the heart, which, in turn, lowers blood pressure. These drugs are also used to treat congestive heart failure, to protect the kidneys in people with diabetes, and to treat people who have had a heart attack.
106
117**Atherosclerosis:** the build-up of fatty deposits within the arteries, eventually may cause a blockage of blood flow or stiffening of the artery walls.
128
139**Balloon Angioplasty:** a procedure in which a small balloon at the tip of the catheter (see cardiac catheterization) is inflated while in an artery to stretch a narrowed artery opening and allow for increase blood flow.
1410
15**Beta-Blockers:** one kind of medication used to treat hypertension, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat, and to help protect a person from heart disease. Beta-blockers work by blocking the effects of adrenaline in various parts of the body. Beta-blockers relieve stress to the heart so that it requires less blood and oxygen. As a result, the heart doesn't have to work as hard and blood pressure is lowered.
11**Beta-Blockers:** one kind of medication used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat, and to help protect a person from heart disease. Beta-blockers work by blocking the effects of adrenaline in various parts of the body. Beta-blockers relieve stress to the heart so that it requires less blood and oxygen. As a result, the heart doesn't have to work as hard and blood pressure is lowered.
1612
17**Calcium Channel Blockers:** one kind of hypertension medication that slows the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and the walls of the arteries (blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the tissues). This relaxes the arteries and reduces the pressure in the blood vessels and makes it easier for the heart to pump blood.
13**Calcium Channel Blockers:** one kind of high blood pressure drug that slows the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and the walls of the arteries (blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the tissues). This relaxes the arteries and reduces the pressure in the blood vessels and makes it easier for the heart to pump blood.
1814
1915**Cardiac Catheterization:** a procedure in which a catheter (a small flexible tube) is inserted into a large artery and guided to the coronary arteries in the heart to determine pressure and blood flow in the heart.
2016
21**Carotid Artery:** an artery on the neck that supplies blood to the brain. They are located on both the right and left sides of the neck.
17**Carotid Artery:** an artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain. They are located on both the right and left sides of the neck.
2218
23**Carotid Endarterectomy:** the surgical removal of plaque within the carotid artery.Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: a test that uses X-rays to create a cross-sectional image of selected body sections of a person. Congestive Heart Failure: the inability of the heart to adequately pump blood. This can be caused by a number of problems, including untreated hypertension, heart attacks or infections.
19**Carotid Endarterectomy:** the surgical removal of plaque within the carotid artery.
2420
21**Computed Tomography (CT) Scan:** a test that uses X-rays to create a cross-sectional image of selected body sections of a person.
22
23**Congestive Heart Failure:** the inability of the heart to adequately pump blood. This can be caused by a number of problems, including untreated high blood pressure, heart attacks, or infections.
24
2525**Corticosteroids:** natural hormones, or a group of drugs that are similar to the natural hormones, produced by the adrenal glands. There are two main types: glucocorticoids, which have anti-inflammatory effects, and mineralocorticoids, which are necessary for salt and water balance.
2626
2727**Cyclosporine:** a drug that organ transplant patients take to suppress the immune system in order to prevent their bodies from rejecting the transplant.