Heart Health Glossary

Coronary heart disease, electrocardiograms, cardiac stress tests, stents — you've likely heard these common terms. But do you know what these words mean?

Review this glossary to get up-to-date on heart-healthy lingo.

Coronary heart disease – Also known as coronary artery disease, this is the most common form of heart disease. The condition occurs when cholesterol and other substances build up in the arteries, which causes them to harden or narrow. Over time, this limits the heart's access to oxygen and can lead to a heart attack. According to the CDC, over 18 million American adults have CAD.

Testing

Electrocardiogram (EKG) – During an EKG, a technician places stickers containing electrodes on your chest, arms and legs to measure your heart's electrical activity. The test can tell your doctor several things about your heart health, including whether or not your heart is working too hard or if you have an arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat). Generally, the test takes 10 minutes or less, and then your doctor can immediately go over the results with you.

Cardiac stress test – Exercise stress tests help determine if you have coronary artery disease or arrhythmia during exercise. Technicians place EKG electrodes on your chest and arms to perform a stress test. You will exercise on a treadmill or stationary bicycle. The speed and incline of the treadmill or bike will increase throughout the test to see how your heart tolerates physical activity. The exercise portion of the test takes around 15 minutes.

If doctors suspect you have a blockage in one of the arteries of your heart based on results from tests, such as an electrocardiogram or cardiac stress test, they may recommend further diagnostic testing.

If You Have a Blockage

A coronary angiogram is one of the most common procedures performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. This test is used to diagnose coronary heart disease and involves using a special dye to view how well blood is circulating through the arteries. Once the dye is injected into the heart, an X-ray shows whether or not the dye is moving properly through the arteries, which highlights potential blockages.

If you have a blockage in one of your arteries, your doctor may place a stent in that artery. Stents are small tubes usually made of metal, mesh, or fabric that open blocked arteries and help restore blood flow. By placing a stent, doctors can often avoid invasive open-heart surgeries. However, it's crucial to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of such a procedure.

In 2019, Stanford and NYU's medical schools found no significant difference between patients who underwent surgical procedures versus those prescribed medications and who made lifestyle adjustments. The exception, however, was coronary artery disease patients who also had angina. Stents and bypass surgery relieved symptoms for those patients. In 2020, The American College of Cardiology reported no significant difference in patient outcomes when comparing stents and bypass surgery. They also found those with stents were likely to need a second procedure to unblock the artery again.

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