Angina Pectoris - A heavy feeling in the chest or throat which may be associated with a feeling of suffocation and impending death.

Arrhythmia - Irregular heart beats.

Atherosclerosis - A common form of arteriosclerosis in which deposits of plaques containing cholesterol are formed on the inside of the arteries.

Cardiomyopathy - A general diagnostic term for diseases of the heart muscle often of unknown origin.

Catheter - Small plastic tubes that can be inserted into the body for a variety of procedures and uses.

Coronary Angioplasty - A procedure using a catheter and a tiny balloon to open blocked arteries.

Coronary Artery Disease - Atherosclerosis that affects the arteries supplying blood to the heart.

EKG - Electrocardiogram. A graphic tracking of the variations in the electrical activity of the heart muscle.

Echocardiography - A procedure using sound waves allowing a physician to "see" the heart.

Electrophysiology (EP) Test - A study of the heart's electrical activity.

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) - Death of part of the heart muscle due to prolonged obstruction of the blood flow.

Non-invasive - Not penetrating the body. Usually refers to tests or procedures done externally rather than internally.

Pacemaker - Either the body's natural impulses that regulate the heartbeat or an artificial device that can also serve this function.

Stenosis - A narrowing or closing of a blood vessel or valve.