Glossary

Acute Myocardial Infarction: Sometimes called heart attack. A heart attack occurs when low blood flow causes the heart to starve for oxygen. Heart muscle dies or becomes permanently damaged.

Aneurysm: A localized, blood-filled dilation (balloon-like bulge) of a blood vessel caused by disease or weakening of the vessel wall.

Angina Pectoris: Severe squeezing or pressure-like chest pain, brought on by exertion or stress. Usually a symptom of heart disease.

Aortic Aneurysm: A weakened and bulging area in the aorta, the major blood vessel that feeds blood to the body. A ruptured aortic aneurysm can cause life-threatening bleeding.

Arteriosclerosis: A group of diseases characterized by thickening and loss of elasticity of arterial walls. Sometimes called "hardening of the arteries".

Atherosclerosis: A process in which deposits of yellowish plaques (atheromas) containing cholesterol and other materials are formed within arteries. An atheroma can increase in size and harden over time reducing blood flow. It can potentially result in bleeding into and subsequently clotting of an artery resulting in a heart attack.

Body Mass Index (BMI): A measure of human body size and proportion. It is defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters.

Cardiovascular Diseases: Cardiovascular disease refers to the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels (arteries and veins).

Cerebrovascular Disease: Any disease by which the arteries in the brain, or are connected to the brain, are defective. Frequently used interchangeably with the term "Stroke."

Cholesterol: Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Elevated LDL cholesterol levels are associated with atherosclerosis.