| Angina Pectoris | Chest or arm pain resulting from reduced oxygen supply to the heart muscle.
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| Atherosclerosis | The deposition of materials along the arterial walls; a type of arteriosclerosis.
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| Arteriosclerosis | Hardening of the arteries due to conditions that cause the arterial walls to become thick, hard, and non-elastic.
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| Benign Tumors | An abnormal growth of tissue confined to a particular area; not considered to be cancer.
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| Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) | A broad classification of diseases of the heart and blood vessels that include CHD as well has high blood pressure, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
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| Chronic Diseases | Disease or illness associated with lifestyle or environmental factors as opposed to infectious diseases; hypokinetic diseases are considered to be chronic diseases.
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| Congestive Heart Failure | The inability of the heart muscle to pump the blood at a life-sustaining rate.
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| Coronary Collateral Circulation | Circulation of blood to the heart muscle associated with the blood-carrying capacity of a specific vessel or development of collateral vessels (extra blood vessels).
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| Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) | Diseases of the heart muscle and the blood vessels that supply it with oxygen, including heart attack.
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| Coronary Occlusion | The blocking of the coronary blood vessels, sometimes called heart attack.
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| Diastolic Blood Pressure | The lower blood pressure number, often called "resting pressure". It is the pressure in the arteries at its lowest level occurring just before the next beat of the heart.
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| Emotional Storm | A traumatic emotional experience that is likely to affect the human organism physiologically.
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| Fibrin | A sticky threadlike substance that in combination with blood cells forms a blood clot.
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| High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) | A blood substance that picks up cholesterol and helps remove it from the body; often called "good cholesterol."
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| Hyperkinetic Condition | A disease/illness or health condition caused by or contributed to by too much physical activity.
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| Hypertension | High blood pressure.
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| Hypokinetic Diseases or Conditions | Hypo means "under" or "too little," and kinetic means "movement" or "activity". Thus, hypokinetic means "too little activity." A hypokinetic disease or condition is associated with lack of physical activity or too little regular exercise. Examples of such conditions include heart disease, low back pain, and adult-onset diabetes.
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| Insulin | A hormone secreted by the pancreas that regulates levels of sugar in the blood.
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| Insulin Resistance | A condition that occurs when insulin becomes ineffective or less effective than is necessary to regulate sugar levels in the blood.
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| Insulin Sensitivity | A person with insulin resistance (see previous definition) is said to have decreased insulin sensitivity. The body's cells are not sensitive to insulin so they resist it and sugar levels are not regulated as they should be.
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| Lipids | All fats and fatty substances.
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| Lipoprotein | Fat-carrying proteins in the blood.
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| Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) | A core of cholesterol surrounded by protein; the core is often called "bad cholesterol."
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| Malignant Tumors (carcinomas) | An uncontrolled and dangerous growth capable of spreading to other areas; a cancerous tumor.
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| Osteoporosis | A condition associated with low bone density and subsequent bone fragility leading to high risk of fracture.
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| Parasympathetic Nervous System | The branch of the autonomic nervous system that slows the heart rate.
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| Peripheral Vascular Disease | Lack of oxygen supply to the working muscles and tissues of the arms and legs resulting from decreased blood flow.
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| Sedentary Death Syndrome (SeDS) | A group of symptoms associated with sedentary living including low health-related fitness (low cardiovascular fitness and weak muscles), low bone density, poor metabolic fitness (high blood sugar and fat levels, obesity, and high blood pressure at rest) and low cardiovascular fitness.
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| Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident or CVA) | A condition in which the brain, or part of the brain, receives insufficient oxygen as a result of diminished blood supply; sometimes called apoplexy.
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| Sympathetic Nervous System | The branch of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for activity by speeding up the heart rate.
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| Systolic Blood Pressure | The upper blood pressure number often called working blood pressure. It represents the pressure in the arteries at its highest level just after the heart beats.
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| Triglycerides | A type of blood fat associated with increased risk of heart disease.
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