{"id":280137,"date":"2020-12-02T11:08:06","date_gmt":"2020-12-02T16:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nortonhealthcare.com\/?page_id=280137"},"modified":"2023-05-15T13:19:33","modified_gmt":"2023-05-15T17:19:33","slug":"diastolic-heart-failure","status":"publish","type":"service","link":"https:\/\/nortonhealthcare.com\/services-and-conditions\/heart-and-vascular-care\/services\/diastolic-heart-failure\/","title":{"rendered":"Diastolic Heart Failure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What Is Diastolic Heart Failure?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Diastolic heart failure, or diastolic dysfunction, happens when the part of the heart responsible for pumping blood out to the rest of the body \u2014 the left ventricle \u2014 has stiffened. As a result, the heart can\u2019t fill with blood between beats as it should.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A clinical measure of diastolic heart failure is preserved ejection fraction. Ejection fraction refers to how much blood the left ventricle pumps out. A normal ejection fraction is more than 55%. With diastolic heart failure, the left ventricle\u2019s ejection fraction is preserved, meaning it is pumping out the blood it has sufficiently. But it isn\u2019t filling properly between beats (diastolic dysfunction), so it has less blood to move along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To compensate, your heart may increase pressure inside the ventricle \u2014 corresponding to the bottom number in your blood pressure reading \u2014 to try to fill it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More patients with diastolic heart failure, diastolic dysfunction and other heart conditions entrust their care to Norton Heart & Vascular Institute than any other provider in the Louisville and Southern Indiana area. Our board-certified and fellowship-trained cardiologists and other specialists in the Advanced Heart Failure and Recovery Program<\/a> are at the leading edge of advanced treatments for diastolic heart failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Systolic Versus Diastolic Heart Failure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The key difference between systolic and diastolic heart failure is in how well the left ventricle is pumping blood. As blood circulates though the heart, it\u2019s final trip before going out to the rest of the body is the left ventricle. If it isn\u2019t performing well, the body doesn\u2019t get enough oxygen-rich blood, and fluids can back up \u2014 affecting the lungs, kidneys and other organs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diastolic heart failure means the left ventricle pumping out as it should, but when it relaxes to refill with blood between beats it isn\u2019t taking in as much as it needs to. In cases of systolic heart failure, the left ventricle is filling with blood, but can\u2019t pump it out effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diagnosing systolic versus diastolic heart failure can be difficult and requires experience, skill and access to leading-edge tools possessed by the specialists at the Advanced Heart Failure and Recovery Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Precise diagnosis is crucial, because the treatments for systolic or diastolic heart failure can be quite different, especially when mechanical assist devices may be needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diastolic Heart Failure Symptoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chronic diastolic heart failure comes on slowly with age and is the most common form. Acute diastolic heart failure comes on suddenly, often with sudden difficulty breathing and fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The outward symptoms of diastolic heart failure and systolic heart failure<\/a> are the same. Your Advanced Heart Failure and Recovery Program<\/a> providers will be able to make an accurate diagnosis. Symptoms can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n