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Glossary
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ICD |
see Implantable cardioverter defibrillator |
| Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) |
A battery-powered device implanted in the chest to monitor and, if necessary, correct episodes of serious abnormal heart rhythms that can cause sudden death |
| In-stent restenosis |
Narrowing of artery walls due to the buildup of scar tissue around the stent. See Restenosis. |
| Infarction |
Tissue death caused by oxygen deprivation. |
| Inferior vena cava |
A large vein that returns blood from the legs and abdomen to the heart. |
| Inotrope |
any drug that affects the strength of the heart muscle's contractions; sometimes used to treat advanced heart failure; the most commonly used inotrope is digitalis |
| Insulin |
A hormone that regulates blood sugar (glucose) levels in the blood by converting excess glucose to glycogen. |
| Insulin resistance |
When the body does not respond properly to insulin and is unable to regulate blood sugar. Insulin resistance is associated with type 2 diabetes. |
| Insulin resistance syndrome |
See Metabolic Syndrome. |
| Intermittent claudication |
See Claudication. |
| Interventional cardiologist |
A cardiologist who specializes in interventional technologies such as cardiac catheterization and angioplasty. |
| Intima |
The inner layer of the arterial wall. |
| Intracerebral hemorrhage |
bleeding within the brain |
| Intravenous (IV) |
Within a vein, a common mode of delivering medication. |
| Invasive test |
A test or procedure that penetrates the body or punctures the skin. |
