Glossary
Ankle/Brachial Index
The ankle/brachial index is one way your doctor can diagnose atherosclerosis or other vascular diseases. The test is done by measuring your blood pressure at the ankle and in the arm and dividing the systolic pressure in the ankle by the systolic pressure in the arm.
Artery or arteries
Arteries are relatively thick-walled blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. They play a major role in the function of the cardiovascular system.
Atherosclerosis or athero
Atherosclerosis, or “athero,” is the progressive buildup of plaque in the arteries. LDL (bad) cholesterol along with other health factors, such as a family history of early heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, and being overweight, can all play a role in the formation of plaque. This plaque starts building up in our arteries in early adulthood and gets worse over time.
Body mass index (BMI)
A more accurate measure of ideal weight, BMI is an estimation of body fat based on height and weight. According to guidelines from the National Institutes of Health, a normal BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, and a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese.
Bruits
Pronounced “brew-ees,” bruits are the faint whooshing noise caused by the turbulence of blood rushing through restricted arteries. This is a common way for your doctor to diagnose atherosclerosis.
Calorie
A calorie is a measure of energy that you get from the food you eat. A calorie from food is sometimes called a kilocalorie. There aren't different types of calories — the energy you get from one calorie in a piece of lettuce is the same as the energy you get from one calorie in a piece of meat.
Diabetes
A disease in which the body cannot convert food into energy because of a lack of insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas), or because of an inability to use insulin. Diabetes is a serious condition that can cause complications ranging from numbness to loss of vision to coma. It also significantly raises the risk for other variations, such as stroke and heart disease. About 20.8 million Americans have diabetes.
Dietary (soluble) fiber
A dietary fiber that is important to your health. It slows digestion and extends the feeling of fullness, and can also lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol. This fiber can be found in certain foods, such as peas, beans, and apples.
Familial hypercholesterolemia
For a small number of people, high cholesterol levels, especially LDL cholesterol levels, are due to genetic variations with their LDL receptors — the place where LDL cholesterol enters the cell. This is called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). There are two types, heterozygous FH (in which one receptor on the cell has mutated) and homozygous (the cells have two mutated receptors). In heterozygous FH, total cholesterol levels can run as high as 350-500 mg/dL. In homozygous FH, which is much rarer, total cholesterol levels can reach as high as 700-1,200 mg/dL. People with either type of FH need to manage their cholesterol closely. For those with a parent or a sibling who has been diagnosed with FH or early coronary heart disease (CHD), cholesterol levels should be tested early. LDL-cholesterol-lowering drugs may be recommended by your doctor.
Fasting lipid profile
Also known as a cholesterol test, this is used to determine an individual's levels of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. You will be asked to fast before you have a test to measure your blood cholesterol level. This means you have nothing to eat or drink — except for water — for 9 to 12 hours before the test.
Fat
A class of energy-rich food that comes from a substance found mainly in animal tissue and certain plants. There are 9 calories in each gram of fat — more than twice the calories in protein or carbohydrates.
Gram
A measure of weight in the metric system. Approximately 28 grams make 1 ounce.
High blood pressure
When the pressure at which blood is pumped through the arteries by the heart is above an average range, it is called high blood pressure, or hypertension. Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers — the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes). For most people, blood pressure should be kept at or below 120/80.
High blood sugar
An excessive amount of sugar in the blood, also known as hyperglycemia, is a symptom of diabetes.
HDL (good) cholesterol
HDL cholesterol is considered "good" because it helps return cholesterol to the liver, where it can be eliminated from the body. As a rule, you want your HDL cholesterol high.
LDL (bad) cholesterol
LDL is a lipoprotein that carries cholesterol throughout the bloodstream as LDL cholesterol, or LDL-C. If you have too much LDL-C circulating in your bloodstream, it can lead to the buildup of plaque in your arteries. That's why it's so important to talk to your doctor. As a rule, you want to keep your LDL-C low.
Monounsaturated
An unsaturated fat found primarily in plant-based foods such as olive and canola oils. Monounsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature. Eating more monounsaturated fats (instead of saturated fats such as butter and lard) can help lower cholesterol.
National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)
Launched in 1985 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health, the NCEP works to reduce the incidence of high cholesterol and related health conditions in the US by establishing guidelines and recommendations on cholesterol management and promoting them to health care professionals, patients, and the general public.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The federal government's centralized source for health information and research.
Obese or obesity
Excessive fat in body tissues. Obesity increases the danger of developing many health conditions, including diabetes and certain heart problems. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute defines overweight as having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 and obese as having a BMI of 30 or greater.
Omega-3 fatty acids
A substance found in fish oil and some plants that may be helpful in reducing heart disease.
Overweight
Weighing more than is healthy for your age and size. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute defines overweight as having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9.
Plaque
Plaque is the fatty deposits and other cells that can build up in the walls of your arteries. One major cause is high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. Other health factors, such as a family history of early heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, and being overweight, can also play a role.
Polyunsaturated
An unsaturated fat found primarily in plant-based foods such as corn, sunflower, safflower, and soybean oils. Polyunsaturated fats are liquid or soft at room temperature. Eating more polyunsaturated fats (instead of saturated fats such as butter and lard) can lower cholesterol.
Protein
Protein is composed of a chain of amino acids. Our muscles, organs, and glands are largely made of protein. Our bodies can produce 13 of the 20 or so amino acids we need to make proteins, but the other amino acids (about 9) can be gotten only from food. There are 4 calories in each gram of protein.
Saturated fat
Saturated fats are usually found in animal products, including fatty meat and dairy products, and are usually solid at room temperature. However, they are also found in some vegetable oils, including coconut and palm oils.
Side effects
Secondary effects of a drug or therapy (as opposed to the main therapeutic effect) that are undesirable. The most common side effects of CRESTOR® (rosuvastatin calcium) are headache, muscle pain, abdominal pain, weakness, and nausea.
Stanols and sterols
Stanols and sterols are chemicals present in certain plants that have been shown to help reduce high cholesterol. They may be found as ingredients in certain margarines and salad dressings that claim to lower cholesterol.
Statin
A type of drug that inhibits cholesterol production in the liver. For example, CRESTOR, a statin drug, works by blocking an enzyme in the liver. Blocking this enzyme causes the liver to make less cholesterol. CRESTOR also helps the liver absorb and use more cholesterol from the blood.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are another fat produced by the liver and also found in food. Like high cholesterol, they can be dangerous to your health. As a rule, you want to keep your triglycerides low.
Unsaturated fat
Unsaturated fat is found primarily in plant-based foods and is usually liquid at room temperature. Eating more unsaturated fat (instead of saturated fat such as butter and lard) can help lower cholesterol. There are two main types of unsaturated fat: monounsaturated (such as olive and canola oils) and polyunsaturated (such as corn, sunflower, safflower, and soybean oils).