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Glossary
H
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Hemorrhagic stroke |
also called a bleeding stroke; the less common type of stroke, caused by sudden bleeding in the brain |
| Hemostatic |
Stops something from bleeding. |
| Heparin |
A type of blood thinner or anticoagulant that helps reduce blood clots from forming. |
| Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) |
An allergic reaction triggered by the blood thinner heparin that results in a dangerously low level of platelets (also called thrombocytes). |
| Hepatomegaly |
Enlargement of the liver. |
| High density lipoprotein (HDL) |
A lipid-protein complex that binds to cholesterol and removes it from the bloodstream and artery walls. HDL cholesterol is commonly referred to as good cholesterol because high levels reduce heart disease risk. |
| Holter monitor |
A small, portable electrocardiography machine worn for 12 to 48 hours that records the heart's rhythm and detects abnormalities. |
| Homocysteine |
An amino acid. High homocysteine levels in the blood are linked to artery damage, and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. |
| Hormone (replacement) therapy |
The replacement of the female sex hormones lost during menopause in order to relieve the symptoms of menopause. Most commonly, women take estrogen and progesterone, though women who have undergone a hysterectomy take only estrogen. |
| Hormones |
Chemicals produced by various glands or tissues that are released into the blood. They are essential for controlling reproduction, metabolism, and many other body functions. |
| hydralazine |
a drug that widens blood vessels by relaxing smooth muscle in the peripheral blood vessels; used in combination with isosorbide dinitrate to treat some heart failure patients |
| hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate |
a medication combination used to treat heart failure; added to standard treatment in African American patients; may also be used in patients who cannot tolerate the standard drugs because of side effects or kidney problems |
| Hydrogenation |
A process that changes the melting temperature of fats and oils to improve their shelf life and flavor. Hydrogenation essentially turns healthy fats into unhealthy ones. See Trans fats. |
| Hypercholesterolemia |
An excessive amount of cholesterol in the blood. |
| Hypercoagulable |
An increased tendency for the blood to clot . Certain medications or inherited disorders can cause a hypercoagulable state. |
