Glossary of Terms

Abdominal obesity is overweight that is concentrated around the midsection. It is defined as a waistline greater than 102 cm for most men (90 cm for men of South Asian or Chinese descent) and greater than 88 cm for most women (80 cm for women of South Asian or Chinese descent).

ACE inhibitors are a class of drugs used to lower blood pressure. They are particularly useful in people with diabetes, heart failure, kidney disease or a previous heart attack or stroke.

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are a class of medications used to treat diabetes.

Angina (also known as angina pectoris) is the medical term for chest pain due to coronary heart disease.

Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are a class of medications used to lower blood pressure. They are particularly useful in people with diabetes and those who have too many side effects with ACE inhibitors.

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty material collects along the walls of the arteries.  This fatty material thickens, hardens, and may eventually block the arteries.

Beta-blockers are a class of medications used to lower blood pressure. They are especially useful in people with angina or a previous heart attack.

Biguanides are a class of medications used to treat diabetes.

Calcium channel blockers (calcium antagonists) are a class of medications used to lower blood pressure. They work by causing blood vessels to expand.

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids (fats) in the blood and in every one of your body's cells. Too much cholesterol in the blood can lead to cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes mellitus is the inability of the body to produce or properly respond to insulin. Insulin allows the body to use glucose (sugar) as fuel. The two major forms of the disease are type 1 diabetes (which usually affects children) and type 2 diabetes (which usually affects adults).

Diuretics are a class of medications used to lower blood pressure. They work by helping the kidney eliminate salt and waster, which lowers the amount of fluid in the body.

Fibric acid derivatives (fibrates) are a class of medications mainly used to lower triglycerides and raise HDL-cholesterol levels.

Glucose is a type of sugar that can be used directly by the cells of the body. Much of the food we eat is broken down into glucose.

HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is the "good" cholesterol. It takes excess cholesterol back to the liver where it can be excreted.

Hypercholesterolemia is the disease name for high levels of cholesterol in the blood.

Hypertension is the disease name for high blood pressure.

Insulin is a hormone made by the body. Its normal function is to help glucose move into the body’s cells.

Insulin secretagogues are a class of medications used to treat diabetes. They stimulate the body to produce more insulin and to use it more effectively. 

Insulin sensitizers are a class of medications used to treat diabetes. They work by increasing the body’s response to its own insulin. 

LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is the "bad" cholesterol. High levels of LDL-cholesterol can cause narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis).

Lipids are fats.

Lipoproteins are a combination of fats (lipids) and proteins. They carry cholesterol through the blood.

Myocardial infarction, or heart attack, occurs when there is a blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle.

Nicotine is an addictive substance found in tobacco. It is much less dangerous in the form of nicotine medications, such as gum or patches, than in the form of cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco or chewing tobacco.

Plaque is a deposit of cholesterol and other materials inside the wall of a blood vessel. It can cause the blood vessel to narrow (atherosclerosis) or rupture, leading to a heart attack or stroke.

Saturated fat is usually found in animal products such as whole milk, eggs, and meats, and in some plant foods such as coconut or palm oils or hydrogenated oils. It is the main dietary culprit in raising blood cholesterol.

Statins are a class of medications that are effective for lowering LDL-cholesterol, lowering triglycerides and raising HDL-cholesterol levels and are generally well tolerated.

Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. High triglyceride levels are associated with low HDL-cholesterol, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.