Cardiac Disease in Pregnancy (Definition of Terms)

1. Acyanotic(left to right shunt)

With this type of heart defect, blood contains enough oxygen, but it's pumped throughout the body abnormally. These defects don't interfere with the amount of oxygen or blood delivered to the rest of the body

2. Arrhythmias

refers to any problem in the rate or rhythm of a person's heartbeat. The electrical impulses may be too fast, too slow or erratic causing an irregular heartbeat.

3. Bradycardia

heart rate that is lower than 60 beats per minute when at rest

4. Cardiomyopathy

is any disease of the heart muscle in which the heart loses its ability to pump blood effectively.

5. Cyanotic (right to left shunt)

Involves heart defects that reduce the amount of oxygen delivered to the rest of the body.

6. Eisenmenger's syndrome

is a rare condition that affects both the heart and the lungs. The disease is characterized by high blood pressure and abnormal blood flow through the heart.

7. Ischemic heart disease

An occluded coronary artery causes an inadequate supply of blood to the heart and produces angina pectoris or a heart attack

8. Rheumatic heart

A condition in which the heart valves have been permanently damaged by rheumatic fever.

9. Tachycardia

in adults refers to a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute

10. Tetralogy of Fallot

is a combination of four congenital heart defects. The four defects are a ventricular septal defect (VSD), pulmonary stenosis, a misplaced aorta and a thickened right ventricular wall (right ventricular hypertrophy)