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Glossary
T
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Tachycardia |
Abnormally fast heartbeat, one of the two main types of arrhythmias, or disorders of heart rhythm. See also Paroxysmal tachycardia. |
| target heart rate |
the goal number of beats per minute to be sure your heart is working hard during an exercise test; your target heart rate is based on a formula that takes into account your age, height, and weight |
| Thallium stress test (nuclear scan) |
This test shows the working of the heart muscle as blood flows through the heart. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into a vein, usually in the arm, and a camera records how much is taken up by the heart muscle. |
| Thiazide diuretic |
a type of diuretic medication that works by causing more salt to be excreted than other diuretics; the most commonly used diuretic to treat high blood pressure |
| thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) |
an aneurysm in the upper part of the aorta, where it runs through the chest behind the heart; 1 in 4 aortic aneurysms are this type |
| Thrombectomy devices |
Devices that remove a thrombus (blood clot). |
| Thrombocyte |
The smallest blood cells responsible for clotting. Also known as platelets. |
| Thrombocytopenia |
A dangerously low level of platelets (also called thrombocytes), blood cells involved in clotting. |
| Thrombolytic agents |
See Clot busters. |
| thrombophilia |
a blood clotting problem that causes clots to form too easily; women with blood clotting problems are at risk for deep vein thrombosis, heart attack, and stroke |
| Thrombus |
A blood clot. |
| thyroid stimulating hormone test |
a standard blood test that determines how well your thyroid gland is working; the hormones produced by your thyroid gland affect all parts of the body, including the heart |
| tip-toe test |
a test to diagnose PAD in women who cannot have the standard exercise ankle-brachial index (ABI) test because they are unable to exercise on a treadmill; during this test you will exercise by standing flat-footed and using your calf muscles to lift your heels off the floor |
| Tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) |
A drug that dissolves blood clots to restore blood flow to a blocked artery; the first-choice treatment for patients with blocked-vessel (ischemic) stroke; it must be given within a few hours of when stroke symptoms first appeared. Can also be used to treat heart attacks. |
| toe-brachial index (TBI) |
a test used to diagnose PAD in women whose leg arteries are too stiff to get an accurate ankle-brachial index (ABI) reading; a TBI test compares the blood pressure in your big toe to that in your arm |
