Is your heart weak? Let's learn about Diastolic Heart Failure!

Do you sometimes feel a little short of breath? Or do you feel faint even after walking a short distance? Maybe you have to prop yourself up with two or three pillows at night so you can't lie down straight? These may not be just tiredness. Today we are going to talk about a condition that many people are not aware of, but which can greatly affect the health of our heart and can be quite serious. That is Diastolic Heart Failure .

Do you know what Diastolic Heart Failure is?

Simply put, Diastolic Heart Failure is a condition in which the main pumping chamber of your heart, the left ventricle , becomes stiff and unable to fill with enough blood. This is also called Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) .

There are two types of heart failure that occur on the left side of our heart. Diastolic heart failure is one type. The other type is systolic heart failure . What happens there is a decrease in the ability of the left ventricle to pump blood. But today we are talking more about diastolic heart failure.

What does the left ventricle of our heart do?

Did you know that our heart is like a house with four chambers? There are two chambers on the top floor (right atrium and left atrium), and two chambers on the bottom floor (right ventricle and left ventricle). The right ventricle pumps blood only to the lungs. But the left ventricle is the most important part that pumps blood to the entire body. That's why the left ventricle is the thickest chamber in the heart. It is the one that distributes oxygenated blood to our entire body.

What do the terms Diastolic and Systolic mean?

Have you ever had your blood pressure measured? It gives two numbers. Those two numbers are called systolic and diastolic.

Think about it, every time your heart beats, it pumps a little blood into the circulatory system throughout your body. The pressure created when that blood is pumped is called systolic blood pressure .

Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart rests between beats, that is, when the heart muscle relaxes slightly.

That's why your pressure has two values:

• The top number is the systolic blood pressure.
• The bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure.

Now, do you understand how the word "diastolic" comes up when we say diastolic heart failure? That means the problem is during the diastolic phase, when the heart is resting and filling with blood.

How does diastolic heart failure affect your body?

When the left side of your heart, especially the left ventricle, becomes stiff, here's what happens:

• The heart is unable to relax properly between heartbeats.
• Therefore, the heart does not fill with enough blood .
• A normal healthy heart cannot pump as much blood throughout the body.

As a result, you may experience symptoms of heart failure. You may have difficulty breathing, and you may feel fatigued no matter how much rest you get . You may also have difficulty breathing when you lie down at night. You may also notice swelling (edema) in your abdomen or legs. These symptoms may gradually increase over time.

What causes Diastolic Heart Failure?

There are several factors that can cause this condition. Some of them are:

• Atrial fibrillation (Afib) : This is an irregular heartbeat.
• Coronary artery disease : Blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the heart.
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
• Obesity
• Chronic kidney disease
• Other diseases that affect heart tissue, such as amyloidosis .

Looking at these reasons, it is clear that many of the diseases we need to control in our daily lives are affected by this.

What are the symptoms of this condition?

The symptoms of diastolic heart failure are very similar to those of other types of heart failure. If you have this condition, you may experience symptoms such as:

• Wheezing, a sound like coughing or wheezing .
• Dizziness .
• Edema , which means swelling, especially in the legs, ankles, feet, or abdomen.
• Chronic fatigue .
• Frequent urination .
• Shortness of breath , especially when lying down or doing light work.
• Decreased exercise tolerance . Just think, if you now feel like your chest is constricting and you're having trouble breathing when you climb a flight of stairs that you used to be able to climb easily, this could be a symptom.

Important: If you have one or more of these symptoms, please seek medical advice. These may not always be due to diastolic heart failure, but it is very important to get a proper diagnosis.

How is Diastolic Heart Failure diagnosed?

When you go to see a doctor, he or she will ask you about your symptoms and family health history, and then examine you and listen to your heart with a stethoscope .

Several special tests can be performed to diagnose this heart defect. For example:

• Chest X-ray : Take pictures of your chest and heart.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG) : A test that records the electrical activity of the heart.
• Echocardiogram : Uses sound waves to examine the structure and function of the heart muscle and valves.
• Exercise stress test : Your heart rate is increased, either by giving you medication or by walking on a treadmill, and your heart is monitored for response.
• Cardiac catheterization : A thin, hollow tube (catheter) is inserted to measure the pressure and blood flow in the heart.

These tests are what allow the doctor to determine exactly what condition you have.

What are the treatments for this?

Don't panic if you find out you have diastolic heart failure. There are treatments for it. Your doctor will likely recommend some lifestyle changes . Healthy habits can improve your cardiovascular health and help your heart work more efficiently. You may find relief by doing these things:

• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight .
• Eating a low-sodium heart failure diet . It is very good to reduce the salt in the foods we eat and eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Treat high blood pressure .
• Wearing a CPAP machine if you have sleep apnea .
• Exercising for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
• Quitting smoking and using tobacco products . Ask your doctor if you need help with this.

Your treatment plan may also include prescription medications . It is very important to take your medications exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Many people with HFpEF may also be taking medications for other heart conditions. Your doctor may also prescribe medications specifically for diastolic heart failure. These may include:

• Diuretics : Medicines that help remove excess sodium (salt) and water from the body. These are what we commonly call "diuretics."
• Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists : These also help maintain potassium levels while removing excess sodium from the body.
• Medications to lower blood pressure .

Can diastolic heart failure be completely cured?

In fact, diastolic heart failure cannot be completely cured . However, with proper treatment, you can control the symptoms and improve the function of your heart. This means that you can live well with this condition.

What can we do to reduce this risk?

The best way to reduce your risk of diastolic heart failure is to adopt healthy habits . These habits will improve your overall heart health and reduce your risk of heart disease.

You can reduce your risk by doing these things:

• Eating a heart-healthy diet .
• Exercising regularly .
• Limit alcohol consumption and avoid smoking .
• Controlling conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol .

What is the outlook for someone with Diastolic Heart Failure?

With treatment, you can live well with diastolic heart failure. The most important thing is to follow your doctor's treatment plan exactly. Although diastolic heart failure may not go away completely, you can manage your symptoms.

What else would you like to ask your doctor?

You can ask your doctor questions like these:

• What can I do to prevent this heart failure from getting worse?
• What foods should I avoid eating when I have diastolic heart failure?
• What can I do to manage medication side effects?
• How often should I see the doctor for this diastolic heart failure condition?

Take-Home Message

Diastolic heart failure is one of two types of heart failure that occurs in the left side of the heart. It is also called HFpEF . The risk of developing this condition increases as you get older. Also, the risk is higher if you have underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Although there is no complete cure for diastolic heart failure, symptoms can be well managed through lifestyle changes and medications.

Many people live full, active lives with diastolic heart failure. So, don't be afraid and follow proper medical advice.

` Heart disease, diastolic heart failure, heart function, shortness of breath, edema, high blood pressure, diabetes