Cholesterol and Heart-Health Glossary

A

Angina

- chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle does not get enough oxygen-enriched blood. It may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest, or like indigestion. The pain may also occur in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back

Arteries

- blood vessels that carry oxygen-enriched blood from the heart to the body

B

Blood clot

- a jelly-like mass of blood

Blood pressure

- the pressure exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries

Blood vessel

- a tube in your body that carries blood

C

Calories

- units that measure the amount of energy the body is able to get from food; calories come from protein, carbohydrates, and fats

Cholesterol

- a waxy, fat-like substance present in every cell in the body and in many foods

D

Diabetes

- a disease in which the body does not make or properly use insulin

E

Early heart disease

- a heart attack or sudden death in males younger than 55 years of age and in women younger than 65 years of age

Enzyme

- a type of protein made by your body that acts as a catalyst

F

Family history

- a risk factor for heart disease. People with a parent or sibling who had early heart disease are considered to have a family history of early heart disease

Fat

- a type of nutrient found in foods that provides a source of energy

H

Heart attack

- a loss of blood supply and oxygen to an area of heart muscle, usually due to a blockage in a coronary artery

Heart disease

- a condition that can occur when cholesterol and other fat deposits in the arteries build up and cause the arteries to narrow, restricting blood flow to the heart

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol

- known as the "good" cholesterol, HDL cholesterol carries cholesterol to the liver for removal from the body

High risk

- according to national guidelines, people with 2 or more risk factors for heart disease. Risk factors include family history of early heart disease, high blood pressure, age, low HDL ("good") cholesterol, or smoking

I

Insulin

- a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy

K

Kidney failure

- condition in which the kidneys can no longer remove waste from the blood

L

Lipoprotein

- a protein that carries cholesterol in the blood throughout the body. It is made of a fat molecule attached to a protein molecule. It appears in various forms, such as HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol

- known as the "bad" cholesterol, LDL cholesterol in high levels can deposit in the walls of the blood vessels

M

Menopause

- a time marked by the end of menstruation in women, usually between the ages of 45 and 55

N

Nausea

- a feeling of sickness in the stomach causing an urge to vomit

NCEP

- National Cholesterol Education Program, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health

O

Obesity

- an excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body typically indicated by a body mass index of 30 or greater

P

Palpitations

- irregular, usually rapid beating of the heart

Plaque

- a buildup of cholesterol and other material in artery walls

R

Risk factor

- a condition that can lead to a greater chance of developing a disease

S

Saturated fat

- a type of fat found in animal products such as whole milk, eggs, and meats

Side effect

- an unintended symptom or event that may occur as a result of taking medication

Statin

- a class or type of cholesterol-lowering medication that lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and raises HDL ("good") cholesterol levels

Stroke

- an acute neurologic injury where the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted

T

Total cholesterol

- the total amount of cholesterol carried in the blood, whether by HDL ("good") cholesterol, LDL ("bad") cholesterol, or another carrier

Triglyceride

- a type of fat in the blood that increases after you eat food; high triglycerides can increase your risk of heart disease