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Glossary
All
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Transtelephonic monitoring |
Monitoring of a pacemaker done over the telephone. |
| treadmill test |
see "exercise stress test" and "exercise ankle-brachial index (ABI)" |
| Tricuspid regurgitation (insufficiency) |
Failure of the tricuspid valve to close properly, permitting blood to flow backwards into the right atrium. |
| Tricuspid stenosis |
A narrowing or stiffness of the tricuspid valve that generally only affects people who have had rheumatic fever. |
| Tricuspid valve |
One of four heart valves, it maintains the one-way flow of blood from the right atrium to the right ventricle by opening and shutting as the heart muscle expands and contracts. |
| trigger |
in the context of blood clots, a trigger is an event that causes a blood clot to form in a woman who is already at risk; common blood clot triggers include pregnancy, major surgery, trauma, and long periods of immobility |
| Triglycerides |
Fats that are used by the body for energy. At high levels, blood triglycerides increase the risk of heart disease. |
| Troponin |
A protein found in heart muscle that is released into the bloodstream when the heart is damaged. |
| Type A personality |
A description of people with distinctive traits consisting of aggressiveness, impatience, and competitiveness. People with type A personalities are at a higher risk for heart disease. |
| ulcer |
an open sore that is slow to heal or does not heal at all; ulcers on the legs or feet may be a sign of peripheral vascular disease |
| Ultrasound |
High-frequency sound waves that are used for diagnostic and treatment purposes. |
| Unsaturated fats |
A type of dietary fat that does not raise cholesterol levels. Unsaturated fats come in two forms: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. |
| Unstable angina |
Chest pain that is unpredictable because it does not occur during or after a trigger such as stress or exercise. The chest discomfort may even occur at rest and may occur more readily and more frequently over time. |
| Unstable plaque |
Plaques that, in comparison to stable plaques, have a larger fatty core, more white blood cells encased within, and a thinner, softer, more unpredictable coating that might be stripped off at any time without warning, which can cause a plaque rupture. See also Plaque rupture. |
| urinalysis |
analysis of a urine sample to determine how well your kidneys are working; this test looks for any physical or chemical changes in urine, such as color, clarity, and the presence of certain compounds; abnormal results may indicate that kidney artery disease has reduced blood flow to your kidneys |
