Heart failure is scary, as it could lead to you feeling exhausted. It’s a condition that happens when your heart is not pumping enough blood to the rest of your body.
This is usually caused by problems with the heart’s chambers or valves. A new type of heart failure was recently discovered called diastolic heart failure. This is when there is a problem with the pumping of the lower chambers of the heart.
Go here to learn more about diastolic heart failure and how it’s treated.
What Is Diastolic Heart Failure?
Diastolic heart failure is a condition in which the heart’s left ventricle can’t relax and fill with enough blood to meet the body’s need for blood and oxygen. This is due to a decreased ability to fill with blood normally when the heart relaxes between beats.
When this occurs, the heart can’t pump out enough oxygen-rich blood, leading to a decrease in cardiac output. Diastolic heart failure can be caused by a variety of factors, such as:
- hypertension
- coronary artery disease
- diabetes
- aging
- anemia
- alcohol consumption
You can read about ejection fraction here to learn more.
Diagnosing Diastolic Heart Failure
Diagnosing diastolic heart failure starts with a physical exam and may include imaging tests such as an echocardiogram, CT scan, or MRI. These tests measure the size and structure of the heart, the blood flow through the heart, and the amount of blood in the chambers of the heart.
Symptoms of Diastolic Heart Failure
Diastolic heart failure occurs when the heart muscle fails to relax enough to fill with blood during the diastolic phase of the heartbeat. This reduced relaxation leads to a decrease in cardiac output.
Common symptoms of diastolic heart problems and failure include:
- shortness of breath
- reduced exercise tolerance
- fatigue
- swollen ankles
- Low diastolic blood pressure
Treatments for Diastolic Heart Failure
Treatments for diastolic heart failure focus on improving the heart’s ability to fill and pumping action. This can include medications such as diuretics to reduce fluid buildup and ACE inhibitors or ARBs to reduce blood pressure.
Other treatments include lifestyle modifications such as a healthy diet and regular exercise to reduce stress and heart issues. Lifestyle modifications such as avoiding tobacco and alcohol and reducing sodium in the diet can also help to reduce fluid buildup around the heart.
In some cases, surgery or a pacemaker may be needed to improve the heart’s pumping action. Therefore, it is important to have regular check-ups and follow the doctor’s recommendations for treating diastolic heart failure.
Learn All About Diastolic Heart Failure Now
Diastolic heart failure is a serious condition and needs to be treated immediately. Treatment options include medications, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, surgery.
With proper diagnosis and treatment, diastolic heart failure can be managed and symptoms relieved. Therefore, it is important to speak to a doctor for more advice and to discuss options for treatment and management.
Did you find this article helpful? Check out the rest of our blog.
