Cardiology Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of Cardiology distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

PiqCue — piqcue.com/cardiology/cheatsheet

Quick Reference

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

A condition in which atherosclerotic plaques build up inside the coronary arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle. CAD is the most common type of heart disease and the leading cause of myocardial infarction.

Heart Failure

A clinical syndrome in which the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently enough to meet the metabolic demands of the body. It is classified as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Cardiac Arrhythmias

Abnormalities in the heart's electrical conduction system that cause the heart to beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly. Common arrhythmias include atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and heart block.

Valvular Heart Disease

Conditions affecting one or more of the four heart valves (mitral, aortic, tricuspid, pulmonary), causing stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leaking). May be congenital or acquired through degenerative, rheumatic, or infectious processes.

Atherosclerosis

A chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall characterized by the accumulation of lipids, fibrous tissue, and inflammatory cells (plaque) within the intima of arteries. It underlies most cases of coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)

Irreversible necrosis of heart muscle resulting from prolonged ischemia, most commonly caused by acute thrombotic occlusion of a coronary artery. Classified as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) based on ECG findings.

Hypertension

Persistently elevated arterial blood pressure, defined as systolic blood pressure of 130 mmHg or greater or diastolic blood pressure of 80 mmHg or greater. It is the most prevalent modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and chronic kidney disease.

Echocardiography

A non-invasive imaging modality that uses ultrasound waves to visualize cardiac structure and function in real time. It assesses chamber size, wall motion, ejection fraction, valvular function, and hemodynamics through Doppler techniques.

Cardiac Catheterization

An invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in which a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and advanced to the heart or coronary arteries. It allows measurement of intracardiac pressures, assessment of coronary anatomy, and performance of interventions such as angioplasty and stenting.

Cardiac Electrophysiology

A subspecialty of cardiology focused on the electrical activity of the heart. Electrophysiologists diagnose and treat arrhythmias using techniques such as electrophysiology studies, catheter ablation, and implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators.

Key Terms at a Glance

Angina Pectoris:Chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, typically due to coronary artery disease.

Angioplasty:A catheter-based procedure using a balloon to widen a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel, often followed by stent placement.

Arrhythmia:Any abnormality in the heart's rhythm, including conditions where the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly.

Atherosclerosis:A chronic inflammatory disease involving the buildup of lipid-rich plaques within arterial walls.

Bradycardia:A heart rate slower than 60 beats per minute, which may be normal in athletes or pathological if symptomatic.

Cardiac Output:The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute, equal to stroke volume multiplied by heart rate.

Cardiomyopathy:A group of diseases affecting the heart muscle, impairing its ability to pump blood effectively.

Cardioversion:The restoration of a normal heart rhythm using electrical shock (synchronized) or medications (pharmacological).

Catheter Ablation:A procedure using radiofrequency energy or cryotherapy to destroy small areas of heart tissue causing abnormal electrical signals.

Coronary Angiography:An invasive imaging procedure using contrast dye and X-rays to visualize the coronary arteries and identify blockages.

Dyspnea:Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, a common symptom of heart failure and other cardiac conditions.

Echocardiography:An ultrasound-based imaging technique used to assess cardiac structure, function, and hemodynamics.

Ejection Fraction:The percentage of blood ejected from the left ventricle with each heartbeat, used as a measure of cardiac systolic function.

Endocarditis:An infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves, most often caused by bacteria.

Heart Block:A delay or complete interruption in electrical conduction between the atria and ventricles through the AV node.

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