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• AF

  See atrial fibrillation.

• Anaemia

  Low level of haemoglobin (the pigment in blood cells that carries oxygen) .

• Analgesia

  Painkiller – a drug that relieves pain or discomfort.

• Anastomosis

  An artificial connection between two structures, usually tubes such as blood vessels or the intestine.

• Aneurysm

  An abnormal widening in a blood vessel due to the wall of a blood vessel thinning.

• Angina pectoris

  A crushing, heavy pain in the chest. It is caused by an insufficient supply of blood to the heart muscle (myocardium), which results in a poor oxygen supply to the myocardium. Angina is evidence of coronary heart disease. Anyone suffering the symptoms of angina should see their GP.
  

• Angiography

  A procedure where a dye is injected into blood vessels so that they show up and so can be seen (usually by X-ray).
  

• Anterior inter-ventricular artery

  An artery that is located on the front of the heart.

• Antioxidants

  Antioxidants are substances that help to prevent harmful chemical reactions. They are effectively 'scavengers' that mop up harmful free radicals (unstable molecules formed as by-products of the normal metabolic process of our body). The most well-known antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene (which the body can convert to vitamin A). The harm done by free radicals can lead to heart disease, ageing and cancer. Smoking produces an increase in free radicals, and having too much polyunsaturated fat without antioxidants in your diet causes atherosclerosis.

• Aortic regurgitation

  When the aortic valve does not work properly and some blood flows back from the aorta into the left ventricle. If this backflow is significant it can cause heart failure.

• Aortic stenosis

  Where the aortic valve is narrowed due to calcification and blood cannot flow properly from the heart to the aorta. This means that the left ventricle has to work harder to get the blood through. The narrowing can lead to serious problems.

• Aortic valve replacement

  A surgical procedure to replce the aortic valve with a mechanical metal valve or a tissue valve.

• AR

  See aortic regurgitation.

• Arrhythmia

  An abnormal heart rhythm. This may or may not be dangerous.

• Arteries

  Blood vessels which transport blood away from the heart.

• AS

  See aortic stenosis.

• Atheroma

  Fatty deposits that build up on the smooth lining of the artery (endothelium). These fatty deposits harden and produce 'plaques' which narrow the artery.

• Atherosclerosis

  A condition in which fatty deposits collect along the walls of arteries. This could lead to blocked arteries as this fatty deposit hardens to form calcium deposits.

• Atrial fibrillation

  Where your atriums (the upper chambers of your heart) beat irregularly sometimes due to an electrical problem. You would usually feel this as a fast heartbeat and palpitations.

• Atriums

  Chambers of the heart that receive blood from the veins and force it out into a ventricle by the muscle contracting.

• Atrophy

  A reduction in the size or volume of an organ.

• AVR

  See aortic valve replacement.

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