Arrhythmia

Irregular Heart Rhythm

Atria

Top Chamber of the heart

Atrium

Top chambers of the heart that receive blood from the body and the lungs The right atrium is where the heart’s natural pacemaker (sino atrial node) can be found.

Asystole

Cessation of heart beat

Bradycardia

Slow heart rhythm

Cardiac Arrest

When the heart stops beating

Cardiac Physiologist

a staff member skilled in interpreting and providing information on your heart rhythm

Cardiology Department

a hospital department where investigations for your heart take place

Cardioversion

the use of a small energy shock to stop fast heart rhythms

Defibrillation

the use of a high energy shock to stop fast heart rhythms

Event Monitor

Monitor to record heart beats

Hand Held Activator

a small box allowing you to save information on your loop recorder

Heart Attack

occurs when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked by a blood clot. The blood supply to part of the heart muscle is blocked, causing part of the heart muscle to die

Heart Block

Electrical impulses are slowed or blocked as they travel from the top to the bottom chambers of the heart

Implantible Loop Recorder

Monitor implanted for a period of time to record your heart rhythm

Pulse Generator

part of the ICD which contains a battery and electric circuits

Syncope

Loss of consciousness due to Bradycardia or asystole

Ventricles

The two lower chambers of the heart. The right ventricle pumps blood into the lungs and the left ventricle pumps blood around the body.

Ventricular Fibrillation

a fast, dangerous heart rhythm which causes the heart to stop pumping. This rhythm needs a shock to stop it and return the heart back to a normal rhythm. A cardiac arrest can soon follow if the rhythm is not treated quickly with a shock

Ventricular Tachycardia

a fast rhythm which causes the heart to pump less efficiently, and can lead to dizziness, fainting and unconsciousness. If not treated with medication or an electric shock, the rhythm can lead to ventricular fibrillation