ACE inhibitors
See Vasodilators.

Artificial Heart (sometimes called TAH for Total Artificial Heart)
An Artificial Heart is a self-contained mechanical device for pumping blood that is implanted in the chest and completely replaces the natural heart; at present they are experimental and are not available as a treatment for heart disease. 

Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers are medicines that reduce the heart's tendency to beat faster.

Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy, the technical term for heart failure, means the heart muscle has lost its power to do the work it needs to do; it still functions, but not as effectively as it should.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
CPR is a series of emergency steps given to people whose hearts have stopped pumping blood (a condition known as cardiac arrest).  These steps include rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) and chest compressions.

Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure means the weakened heart action is causing excess body fluids to back up into the lungs and elsewhere
 
Dystrophy
Dystrophy is a general term for the progressive degeneration or abnormal development of tissues or organs.

Ejection fraction
The ejection fraction is the amount of blood released from the heart's left ventricle when it contracts.  It's called a "fraction" because it's expressed as a percentage of the total amount of blood in the left ventricle.  For example, an ejection fraction of 80% means that when the left ventricle contracts, 80% of the blood is ejected into the vascular system. 

Ischemic cardiomyopathy
Ischemic cardiomyopathy is a form of cardiomyopathy caused by a chronic lack of oxygen to the heart muscle because of coronary artery disease.

LVAD
See VAD.

Pacemaker
A pacemaker is a tiny, battery operated device that monitors the heartbeat and sends tiny electrical charges to the heart to restore the correct, natural rhythm.  Pacemakers are used to correct heart rhythms that are too slow.  They can be external but are more often implanted under the skin.

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is the organization that manages the fair allocation of the limited number of donor hearts and other organs.

VAD (Ventricular Assist Device, sometimes called LVAD for Left Ventricular Assist Device)
A VAD is a mechanical pump implanted in the chest to help the heart circulate blood.

Vasodilators
Vasodilators are drugs that open ("dilate") the arteries, lowering blood pressure and therefore the heart's workload; ACE inhibitors are one of the newest class of vasodilators.