Diabetes and Heart Disease Terminology
- A -
Abnormal glucose tolerance: The inability to process blood sugar properly.
Aldosterone: A hormone release by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of each kidney, that regulates sodium and potassium levels in the blood. It increases the amount of sodium and water in the blood and raises blood future.
Amino acids: They are organic compounds that can be joined together in chains to form proteins. They are either produced by the human body (non-essential) or acquired through protein in the diet (essential) if not produced by the body in sufficient amounts.
Amino acids can be converted into a sugar (glucose) by the liver, but most are necessary to maintaining connective tissues, blood, skin, organs, and muscles. Amino acids play a major role in healing wounds, fetal development, milk production, and the growth of hair and nails.
Aneurysm: the ballooning of an artery resulting by the weakening of the wall by hypertension, injury or disease.
Angina pectoris: a pain or pressure in the chest that lasts for several minutes and can radiate into the neck or arm. angina pectoris results from a decreased supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. It is caused most often by coronary artery disease, the narrowing of the arteries of the heart that results from atherosclerosis. Angina pectoris generally occurs in times of physical exertion or emotional stress. (The Cornell Encyclopedia of health).
Angiotensin I: produced by the interaction of renin and angiotensinogen under conditions of stress; converted to angiogenesis II through the action of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).
Angiotensin II: produced by the enzymatic action of ACE upon angiogenesis I. Causes the muscles of the arteries and arterioles to contract and the adrenals to release stress hormones; together, these drive up blood pressure.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE): an enzyme that reacts with angiogenesis I to form angiogenesis II, which contributes to hypertension.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: a type of hypertension medication that lowers blood pressure by blocking the enzyme that initiates the potent renin-angiogenesis-aldosterone system.
Antioxidant: a substance in food that protects other substances from oxidation by oxidizing themselves, thus decreasing the damage to tissues by free radicals. Common antioxidants include vitamins A, C, E, betacarotene, and selenium.
Aorta: the large artery that receives blood from the heart’s left ventricle, which has three flaps that control the blood flow.
Arrhythmia: an irregularity in the normal rhythm or force of the heartbeat. Arrhythmias are caused by interference with the transmission of the electrical impulses that govern the heartbeat. These impulses originate in the sinoatrial node, located in the right atrium, an upper chamber of the heart.
Arteries: blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Arteries have thick, elastic walls that can expand as blood flows through them.
Atherosclerosis: the buildup of fatty material in the artery of the walls. The inner lining of the arteries becomes thick and irregular due to the buildup of plaques which narrow the lumen of the artery and restrict blood flow to the tissue it supplies.
Atom: the smallest portion into which an element can be divided and still retain its properties.
- B -
Beta-blockers: a family of drugs that block adrenaline effects. Beta-blockers reduce the impact of adrenaline, which responds to stress by narrowing blood vessels and increasing the heart rate. These drugs prevent the narrowing of the blood vessels and reduce the demands on the heart, lowering blood pressure. Beta-blockers control migraine headaches, angina, the effects of anxiety, irregular or rapid heartbeat, and high blood pressure.
Bile acids (bile): a yellowish green fluid produced in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and sent to the small intestine to process fats.
Blood pressure: the force created by the heart as it pushes blood into the arteries and the circulatory system.
Blood vessels disease: decreased blood flow to the arms and legs due to the thickening and narrowing of blood vessels.
Bran: the husks of cereal grain that are partly or completely removed during the milling process
- C -
Calcium: a soft silver-white element that is an alkaline earth metal constituting about three percent of the earth’s crust.
Capillary: a microscopic blood vessel located between an arteriole and a venule -a small vein that collects blood from capillaries and delivers it to a vein- through which materials are exchanged between blood and body cells.
Carbohydrates: they are one of the three principal types of nutrients used as energy sources (calories) by the body. Chemically they can be defined as neutral compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
Carbohydrates come in simple forms such as sugars and in complex forms such as starches and fiber. The body breaks down most sugars and starches into glucose, a simple sugar that the body can use to feed its cells. Complex carbohydrates are derived from plants. The energy produced by carbohydrates is 4 calories per gram. Proteins also provide 4 calories per gram. Fats provide 9 calories per gram.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD): a general term for all diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Atherosclerosis is the main cause of CVD. When the arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle become blocked, the heart suffers damage known as coronary heart disease (CHD).
Cell: the fundamental unit of a living organism. A human cell is made of two main components: the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The nucleus contains DNA and is responsible for giving the cell instructions and passing on hereditary information. Cytoplasm contains the nucleus and makes up the body of the cell. It is responsible for movement, protein production, and converting substances into chemical energy (Cornell).
Cholesterol: a chemical compound manufactured in the body, used to build cell membranes and brain and nerve tissues. Cholesterol is also used by the body to make steroid hormones and bile acids.
Coronary artery disease: A chronic, progressive condition in which the arteries supplying the heart become narrower and harder, impeding the flow of blood to the heart muscle. coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in almost half of deaths.
Coronary heart disease: See coronary artery disease.
Chronic: having long duration.
- D -
Diabetes: a group of metabolic disorders that result from inadequate or ineffective insulin causing abnormal glucose regulation and utilization.
Diastolic blood pressure: blood pressure that occurs when the heart relaxes between beats. It is the second number in a blood pressure reading, such as 120/80. Diastolic pressure is the pressure of the blood between heart beats.
Digestive enzymes: enzymes are molecules that help with chemical reactions within the body. Most enzymes are proteins. many vital reactions would take place at a very slow pace at body temperature but enzymes facilitate these reactions to happen at a very high speed. Digestive enzymes help with the breaking down of nutrients into simpler compounds. Other enzymes help in the assembling of complex structures, releasing energy and hundreds of other functions. life would not be possible without them.
Diuretic: also known as “water pills”, stimulate the kidneys to increase urine production. They do that by causing the kidneys to reabsorb less sodium back into the blood and since water follows sodium, they both go out of the body though the urine. Diuretics are prescribed for hypertension or high blood pressure, edema associated with congestive heart failure (CHF), and other conditions where it is necessary to rid the body of excess water.
- E -
Electron: a stable negatively charged particle which is a constituent of matter and orbits the nucleus of an atom.
Endosperm: the tissue that surrounds the embryo inside a plant seed and provides nourishment for it.
Endothelium: a layer of cell that lines the inside of blood vessels and other body cavities.
Epinephrine: the adrenal glands release epinephrine into the blood in response to exercise, fright, exposure to cold temperatures, and low blood sugar levels. the hormone prepares the body for urgent action -the fight-or-flight response- by raising blood sugar, blood pressure, and heart rate.it is also a neurotransmitter, produced and stored in nerve endings to transport impulses from one nerve cell to another. (The Cornell Encyclopedia)
Equal: a brand of artificial sweetener containing aspartame, dextrose and maltodextrin. It is marketed as a tabletop sweetener by Merisant, a global corporation which also owns the well-known NutraSweet brand. Equal is known as “Égal”.
In the early 1980s, Equal and its European counterpart, Canderel, were the first aspartame-based sweeteners to be sold to the public. Up to that point, there was only one artificial table sweetener available, which was saccarin.
Equal is sold variously as a bottled powder (“Equal Spoonful”), in blue individual-serve sachets or packets, and as a dissolving tablet for use in beverages such as tea and coffee.
Despite ongoing controversy as to whether aspartame is safe or harmful, aspartame-based products have gained regulatory approvals permitting sale in more than 100 countries. Merisant’s NutraSweet company states that aspartame is now used in more than 5,000 products and consumed by some 250 million people worldwide.[2] These include the Coca Cola Company and Pepsico (Based on Wikipedia information)
- F -
Fats: lipids in foods or the body; composed mostly of triglycerides.
Fiber: the coarse fibrous substances in grains, fruits, and vegetables that aid digestion and clean out the intestines.
Folic acid: a vitamin of the B complex, found in green vegetables, fruit, and liver.
Free-radicals: Free radicals are highly unstable and destructive molecules that subject our cells to oxidative stress, continuous damage that eventually kills the cells. When radicals kill or damage enough cells in an organism, the organism ages and eventually dies.
- G -
Gangrene: local death and decay of soft tissues of the body as a result of lack of blood to the area.
Germ: the embryo in a seed which would sprout into a new plant.
Glycogen: When glucose (sugar) is not needed for immediate energy, it is converted into glycogen by the liver or muscles, and remade into glucose when necessary. Glucose released from glycogen produced by the liver can be used anywhere in the body; glycogen produced by the muscles is released later.
The liver can store only half a day’s supply of glycogen. After 24 hours without food, the carbohydrate reserves of the liver are usually exhausted and the body must use fat or protein stores for energy.
- H -
Heart attack: a sudden, serious, painful, and sometimes fatal interruption of the heart’s normal functioning especially due to a blockage in the coronary artery.
Hemorrhagic stroke: Excessive bleeding. The loss of blood from a ruptured blood vessels, either internally or externally.
High blood pressure: Abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries.
High density lipoprotein: lipoproteins that have more protein than fat.
Homocysteine: an amino acid, derived from proteins in the diet that can build up in the blood and contribute to the development of heart disease.
Hormone: A chemical substance produced in the endocrine glands or certain other cells that regulates or stimulates body functions.
Hydrogenated oil: a fat that has been chemically altered by the addition of hydrogen atoms.
Hydrogenation: the process of inserting hydrogen molecules in liquid vegetable oils.
Hypertension: blood pressure that is dangerously high. Also called high blood pressure. As blood flows through the body, it exerts pressure against the walls of the arteries, the vessels carrying oxygenated blood from the heart. Blood pressure increases when the heart contracts and decreases when the heart relaxes. (Cornell)
- I -
Insoluble fiber: incapable of dissolve in water.
Insulin resistance: a condition in which insulin is unable to introduce nutrients into the cells, leading to elevated levels of blood sugar (glucose) and insulin.
- L -
Lactic acid: During intense exercise, muscles rely on stored glucose (glycogen) in liver and muscles for energy. since the first steps of glycogen breakdown do not require oxygen, glucose is broken down into lactic acid which may accumulate in muscles causing fatigue and pain.
Lipoprotein: a chemical compound made of fat and protein. A diverse class of particles containing varying amounts of triglyceride, cholesterol, and protein.
Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs): lipoproteins that have more fat than protein. High levels of lipoproteins are associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease.
Lycopene: a powerful antioxidant of the carotenoid group found in tomatoes and used in many antioxidants dietary supplements.
- M -
Magnesium: a mineral that makes up part of every cell and aids in carbohydrate metabolism. magnesium is essential to the function of every living cell. It plays a key role in the manufacture of DNA and protein, bone, building, muscle function, and the transmission of nerve impulses. It is also instrumental in releasing energy from glycogen stored in the muscles.
Mediterranean diet: Refers to nutritional patterns found in countries along the Mediterranean basin where life style has historically been associated with good health
Metabolism: the total sum of all chemical reactions that go on in living cells.
Microbe: A microscopic organism, especially one that transmits a disease.
Minor components of olive oil: compounds found in olive oil in small amounts that are strong antioxidants and potent free radical scavengers.
Molecule: the smallest physical unit of a substance that can exist independently, consisting of one or more atoms held together by chemical forces.
Monounsaturated fat: a fat composed of triglycerides in which most of the molecules are monounsaturated. Monounsaturated fats tend to lower levels of LDL-cholesterol in the blood. This type of fat is chemically different in that it only has one double bond and this feature converts a bad fat into a good one. Monounsaturated fats are found in abundance in olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, as well as avocados and most nuts.
- N -
Norepinephrine: it is primarily secreted by the adrenal medulla in the center of the adrenal glands. Along with epinephrine, it is released by the body during times of stress and anxiety. These two hormones help the body in preparation to either fight or flee. they speed up the heart and widen airways and blood vessels, causing a rise in blood pressure.
The main function of norepinephrine is to prevent blood pressure from dropping which is why it may be administered for shock or sever bleeding. (The Cornell Encyclopedia)
NutraSweet: The NutraSweet Company makes and sells Nutrasweet, their trademarked brand name for aspartame and Neotame. Aspartame was discovered in 1965. It has gained regulatory approvals, after applying for fifteen years, permitting its sale in more than 100 countries. Despite losing market share in recent years to sucralose, the NutraSweet Company states that its product is used in more than 5,000 products and consumed by some 250 million people worldwide. (Based on Wikipedia)
Omega-3 oils: a type of polyunsaturated fat that our body needs to perform certain body functions but cannot manufacture or can only manufacture in insufficient amounts.
Organic: produced without the use of synthetic chemicals in favor of naturally occurring pesticides, fertilizers, and other growing aids.
Oxidants: compounds (such as oxygen itself) that oxidize other compounds.
Oxidation: the process of a substance combining with oxygen.
Oxidized LDL-cholesterol: A substance formed when the cholesterol in LDL particles is oxidized by free radicals. It is key in the development of atherosclerosis.
Oxidative damage: continuous damage caused by free radicals.
Oxidative stress: a condition in which the production of oxidants and free radicals exceeds the body’s ability to defend itself and prevent damage.
- P -
Pedometer: step counter.
Penicillin drugs: a family of antibiotics drugs used to combat bacterial infection. In 1928 Alexander Fleming, a British bacteriologist, inadvertently discovered a fungus, penicillin, that killed certain bacteria. By 1941, penicillin was being widely used to control bacterial infections. Today, derivatives of penicillin remain among the most commonly prescribed antibiotics.
Phenylketonuria (PKU): PKU is caused by a defective gene which in turn causes the production of a defective enzyme. as a result the amino acid phenylalanine accumulates in the blood. if left untreated, the build up of phenylalanine can cause mental retardation. The treatment consists mainly of a controlled diet to limit the intake of phenylalanine. Most proteins and natural foods contain this amino acid so they need to be substituted by a variety of synthetic foods.
Phytochemical: Nonnutrient plant chemicals that contain protective, disease-preventing compounds.
Placebo: a drug containing no active ingredients given to a patient participating in a clinical trial in order to assess the performance of a new drug.
Plaques: Mounds of lipid material (mostly cholesterol) with some macrophages (a type of white blood cell) covered with fibrous connective tissue and embedded in artery walls. With time, the plaques may harden as the fibrous coat thickens and calcium is deposited in the plaque.
Platelets: a tiny colorless disk-shaped particle found in large quantities in the blood that plays an important part in the clotting process. Platelets are a component in blood that play an important role in forming clots. Platelets’ clumping together is one of several steps in blood clotting that can lead to a heart attack.
Polyunsaturated fat: a fat made of polyunsaturated molecules. Polyunsaturated fats tend to lower levels of both HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in the blood.
Potassium: a mineral found within the body’s cells. Along with sodium and calcium, potassium regulates the balance in the body’s cells and is essential to heart, kidney, and muscle function, the transmission of nerve impulses, and the secretion of digestive fluids. Good plant sources of potassium include a variety of fruit and vegetables, particularly apricots, avocados, bananas, bran, dried beans and peas, oranges and potatoes.
Primary hypertension: high blood pressure mainly caused by poor dietary and lifestyle habits. Also called essential hypertension.
- R -
Renin: a hormone produced by the kidneys that regulates blood pressure. The release of renin by the kidneys starts a complex series of changes that constrict blood vessels, raising blood pressure. This hormone also encourages the kidneys to retain fluid and salts, which further increases blood pressure.
- S -
Saturated fat: a fat composed of triglycerides in which most of the fatty acids are saturated. Saturated fat is the one the body prefers to store for future energy needs, a reason why it is abundant in animal fat. Solid at room temperature, it is considered the “bad guy” in the world of fats. It is present in red meat, butter, cheese, whole milk and ice cream. It is also part of coconut, palm, and other tropical oils. The major concern about eating saturated fat is that it raises the level of LDL cholesterol, the “bad” one. High levels of LDL are linked to congested arteries. Health authorities recommend that only 10 percent or less of our daily calories come from saturated fat.
Secondary hypertension: high blood pressure resulting from a health condition.
Siesta: short nap, usually in the afternoon.
Sympathetic nervous system: sympathetic nerves are part of the involuntary nervous system. They are responsible for bodily changes associated with stress and excitement. In some disorders, the body exhibits evidence of stress -such as narrowing of peripheral blood vessels or sweating excessively and without appropriate cause. e also encourages the kidneys to retain fluid and salts, which further increases blood pressure.
Sodium: the principal cation in the extra-cellular fluids of the body; critical to the maintenance of fluid balance, nerve transmissions, and muscle contractions.
Soluble fiber: able to dissolve in another substance. It forms a jelly-like paste in the intestine with other foods.
Stroke: a sudden blockage or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain resulting in, for example, loss of consciousness, partial loss of movement, or loss of speech.
Systolic blood pressure: blood pressure measured in the arteries when the heart contract. It is the first number in a blood pressure reading such as 120/80. systolic pressure is the pressure at which blood is forced out of the heart.
- T -
Thiazide diuretics: they reduce the sodium and the water in the blood in such an amount that the body does not have to elevate the blood pressure in order to get rid of the sodium. Unfortunately, the thiazide diuretics not only cause the excretion of sodium but also that of the mineral potassium. Too little potassium in our muscles, causes mild weakness, a very common side effects of diuretics.
Trans-fats: a fat composed of triglycerides in which most of the molecules have an unusual configuration around the double bonds.
Triglycerides: the chief form of fat in the diet and the major storage form of fat in the body; composed of a molecule of glycerol with three fatty acids attached. It can refer both to the main form of fat in food or in the body.
Thrombosis: the formation of a thrombus
Thromboxane: a potent inducer of platelet aggregation.
Thrombus: a clot called thrombus; an aggregation of platelets and protein, which, if small, can contribute to the growth of plaque and, if large, can obstruct a blood vessel, resulting in angina, myocardial infarction, or sudden death.
Vitamins: organic substances essential in small quantities to the nutrition and normal body functions of most animals.
Whole grain: grains that have the entire seed of a plant.
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