| A | B |
|---|
| Afterload | The resistance that the left ventricle must overcome to eject its contents. |
| Cardiomyopathy | Any disease or condition affecting cardiac contractility. |
| Congestive heart failure | A condition in which inadequate circulation causes dyspnoea, oedema and fatigue, which ultimately interfere with the ability to cope with the activities of daily living. |
| Heart failure | A generic term for the inability of the heart to adequately pump fluids through the body to meet its needs. |
| Inotropy | The process of causing a change in muscular contraction. Usually associated with cardiac muscle. Negative inotropes reduce contractility, whereas positive inotropes increase contractility. |
| Preload | The force to which a muscle is subjected prior to shortening. Often used in relation to myocardial workload, where preload refers to end-volumetric pressure opposing a contraction. |
| Rheumatic fever | A condition characterised by acute inflammation, joint pain, fever and cardiac valve scarring. Rheumatic fever is caused by a previous streptococcal infection. |
| Rheumatic heart disease | A condition in which serious and permanent damage has occurred to the heart valve as a result of rheumatic fever. |
| Valve regurgitation | A condition in which backflow of blood occurs through an incompetent valve. |
| Valve stenosis | A narrowing or constriction of a valve. |
