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CARDIOVASCULAR AND PULMONARY LEGAL GLOSSARY |
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Glossary of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Terms
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Sensor: The part of a pacemaker system
that senses the body's need for blood flow. The pacemaker uses sensor
information to monitor body activity and provide the proper heart rate.
Sino-Atrial (SA) Node: The small area in
the upper right chamber of the heart that signals an electrical impulse to run
through the heart to cause the heart to beat. It is often called the
"pacemaker" of the heart.
Sinus Rhythm: The normal, regular rhythm
of the heart, as seen on an ECG.
Stem Cells: Special cells in the body
which are able to transform into other cells. It is possible for stem cells to
transform into heart cells, nerve cells, or other cells of the body, possibly
helping to improve the function of failing organs, including the heart.
Stent: A device made of expandable, metal
mesh that is placed (by using a balloon catheter) at the site of a narrowing
artery. The stent is then expanded and left in place to keep the artery open.
Stenosis: The narrowing or constriction of
an opening, such as a blood vessel or heart valve.
Stethoscope: An instrument for listening
to sounds within the body.
Stokes-Adams Disease: Also called
third-degree heart block; a condition that happens when the impulses that pace
your heartbeat do not reach the lower chambers of your heart (the ventricles).
To make up for this, the ventricles use their own "backup" pacemaker
with its slower rate. This rhythm can cause severe dizziness or fainting.
Stokes-Adams disease is very serious and can lead to heart failure or death.
Streptococcal Infection: An infection,
usually in the throat, resulting from the presence of streptococcus bacteria.
Streptokinase: A clot-dissolving medicine
used to treat heart attack patients.
Sternum: The breastbone.
Stress: Bodily or mental tension resulting
from physical, chemical, or emotional factors. Stress can refer to physical
exertion as well as mental anxiety.
Stroke: A sudden disruption of blood flow
to the brain, either by a clot or a leak in a blood vessel.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Bleeding from a
blood vessel on the surface of the brain into the space between the brain and
the skull.
Sudden Death: Death that occurs
unexpectedly and instantaneously or shortly after the onset of symptoms. The
most common underlying reason for patients dying suddenly is cardiovascular
disease, in particular coronary heart disease.
Superior Vena Cava: The large vein that
returns blood from the head and arms to the heart.
Syncope: A temporary, insufficient blood
supply to the brain which causes a loss of consciousness. Usually caused by a
serious arrhythmia.
Systolic Blood Pressure: The highest blood
pressure measured in the arteries. It occurs when the heart contracts with each
heartbeat.
Stent: Tiny mesh tubes that are implanted
into an artery, providing the necessary scaffolding to hold the artery open and
ensuring blood flow to the heart.
Sternotomy: A lengthwise incision through
the breastbone (sternum) that may be made when heart surgery is performed.
Stress Test: A diagnostic test using an
ECG machine and a stationary bicycle or treadmill to look at areas of the heart
that may have a decreased blood supply.
Subcutaneous (SQ): Beneath the skin.
Sudden Cardiac Death: A death due to
electrical problems in the heart. It is different from a heart attack, which is
heart muscle damage from a blockage rather than an electrical problem. Sudden
cardiac death usually is caused by ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. An
AICD system, however, greatly reduces the risk of sudden cardiac death.
Support Group: A group of patients and
their family members coordinated by medial professionals. The AICD support group
provides an opportunity for members to share their experiences with AICD therapy
and to discuss any concerns.
Saccular Aneurysm: A round aneurysm that
bulges out from an artery.
Saturated Fat: Type of fat found in foods
of animal origin and a few of vegetable origin; they are usually solid at room
temperature. Abundant in meat and dairy products, saturated fat tends to
increase LDL cholesterol levels, and it may raise the risk of certain types of
cancer.
Second-Degree Heart Block: Impulses
traveling through the heart's upper chambers (the atria) are delayed in the area
between the upper and lower chambers (the AV node) and fail to make the
ventricles beat at the right moment.
Septal Defect: A hole in the wall of the
heart separating the atria or in the wall of the heart separating the
ventricles.
Septum: The muscular wall dividing a
chamber on the left side of the heart from the chamber on the right.
Sheath: A catheter-like tube that is
placed inside a patient's vessel during an interventional procedure to help the
doctor with insertion and proper placement of the actual catheter.
Shunt: A connector that allows blood to
flow between two locations.
Sick Sinus Syndrome: The failure of the
sinus node to regulate the heart's rhythm.
Sinus Node: The "natural"
pacemaker of the heart. The node is a group of specialized cells in the top of
the right atrium which produces the electrical impulses that travel down to
eventually reach the ventricular muscle, causing the heart to contract.
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