Diastolic heart failure will have you waking up with a feeling of exhaustion and breathlessness. It may feel like silent heart attack symptoms, but they are quite different.
You will feel so tired that even daily activities will leave you demotivated and completely drained. These symptoms are not always present at once.
However, their presence can indicate the condition. When you recognize these signs more frequently, take it as a sign to visit your doctor.
The condition can be gnarly. It is known to affect the heart’s ability to relax and fill with blood effectively.
This article will help you identify the signs of diastolic heart failure, its causes, and available treatment options.
Whether you or your loved one has been experiencing these troubling signs or you’re just a reader looking for the latest information. Read on to learn more about this lesser-known heart failure.
What Is Diastolic Heart Failure?
Diastolic heart failure is when the lower chambers of the heart do not relax as effectively as they do during the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle. This results in poor blood filling. The diastolic phase is:
When your heart relaxes, there is an expansion to accommodate the blood flowing in from the lungs and the upper chambers. In diastolic heart failure, this is exactly what goes wrong. The ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart) do not relax as they should, resulting in poor filling.
The heart’s pumping ability is intact, but the amount of blood it can pump becomes limited. This is due to the lack of blood that is flowing in. Leading to the classic signs of heart failure.
Unlike the stages of heart failure in other conditions, there is no clear way to know you are developing diastolic heart failure.
Here Are Some Noteworthy Things About This Condition:
- It differs from systolic heart failure in that the latter causes a difference in the heart’s ability to contract and pump blood. At the same time, diastolic heart failure includes an issue with the ability of the heart’s chambers to relax and fill properly.
- The condition is most prominent in older adults, women, and people with a pre-existing diagnosis of diabetes, high blood pressure, or being overweight. However, anyone else may develop the condition as well. The listed population is at a higher risk.
- Another lesser-known cause of the condition is a stiff heart muscle or thickened heart walls that do not relax well. A detailed description of the causes is listed in the following section.
Is Diastolic Heart Failure The Same As Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFPEF)?
You may come across another term while reading about this condition — HFpEF (Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction).
In simple terms, HFpEF and diastolic heart failure are often used interchangeably.
Here’s what that actually means:
- The heart’s pumping ability (ejection fraction) remains normal
- The problem lies in how the heart relaxes and fills
- This leads to reduced blood flow despite normal contraction
This distinction is important because:
- it changes how doctors approach treatment
- it explains why some people have “normal test results” but still feel symptoms
Understanding this can make your diagnosis feel less confusing.
Causes Of Diastolic Heart Failure
Diastolic heart failure can occur due to the rigidity and stiffening of the heart muscles. As noted above, this can lead to issues with blood relaxation and filling. These are the possible causes of this condition:
- High blood pressure. This can be due to the pressure that forces the heart to pump blood harder through the body. Over time, this extra workload leads to the thickening of the heart muscles. Over time, thickening decreases the heart’s flexibility and its ability to relax.
- Aging. Age is another factor that can lead to the development of heart failure in the later stages of one’s life. Moreover, the natural aging process can lead to the loss of heart muscle elasticity. Making it harder for the ventricles to relax and fill with blood after each heartbeat.
- Obesity and diabetes. Excess weight can put a strain on the heart, which contributes to the development of several other issues, such as high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Both conditions are known to be risk factors for the development of diastolic heart failure. In addition, diabetes can also accelerate the development of heart failure.
- Coronary artery disease. This is another cause of this condition that can heighten the risk of your developing the disorder. The buildup of plaque in the arteries present in the heart limits the flow of blood. The muscles that do not receive proper blood flow can then experience trouble relaxing and filling.
Symptoms Of Diastolic Heart Failure
These are the symptoms of diastolic heart failure that can indicate changes in the heart’s elasticity. The result is diastolic heart failure.
Moreover, the heart chambers cannot relax and fill with blood, causing additional issues. For example, the buildup of fluid (similar to right sided heart failure symtoms.) These signs are how you can tell if you are developing the condition:
- Fatigue and weakness.
Feeling weak is the most obvious sign, though it may not make sense at first. Even experiencing fatigue without such activity is a red flag for your heart health.
The struggle your heart goes through to pump enough oxygenated blood can lead to this symptom. Moreover, any form of light exertion will also feel burdening.
- Shortness of breath.
Blood carries oxygen for our tissues and cells, ensuring we can breathe easily.
Thus, this is a significant indicator of the condition, as you will feel short of breath even at rest, unlike when you are active.
There is a high possibility that your lungs have a fluid buildup due to poor blood flow, also known as pulmonary edema.
- Frequent urination at night.
One of the classic signs of heart condition as well as other chronic conditions.
The excess fluid that builds up during the day can cause frequent urination at night. This condition is medically known as nocturia.
- Irregular heartbeat.
This one is a no-brainer, as it clearly indicates dysfunction in how the heart is acting on the issue. Arrhythmia, as doctors call it, is due to a change in the heart’s electrical activity.
The heart may skip a beat, beat too fast, or beat too slowly. It all varies from person to person.
- Swelling in the abdomen and legs.
Poor circulation is a common cause of edema in various parts of the body. This is why you may also observe swelling in your legs, abdomen, or extremities.
- Cognitive impairment.
One of the lesser-known signs of heart failure, especially diastolic heart failure, is cognitive impairment. The lack of oxygenated blood reaching the heart and, thus, other parts of the body can show up as cognitive decline.
Moreover, fluid buildup is also known to contribute to this symptom. Poor circulation and fluid buildup can team up to cause mental fuzziness, confusion, poor concentration, and forgetfulness.
Tip:
It is important that you inform your doctor of every sign you may be experiencing, whether or not you think it is related to the condition.
It is up to the doctor to analyze the signs and draw a conclusion. In addition, experiencing these signs. Any of them, or a couple of them, require medical attention, which can only be obtained by consulting a professional.
Early Warning Signs People Often Ignore
Not all symptoms show up dramatically. In many cases, people dismiss early signs as:
- general fatigue
- aging
- or lack of fitness
But in diastolic heart failure, early symptoms can include:
- getting unusually tired after normal activities
- needing more pillows to sleep comfortably
- mild breathlessness while climbing stairs
- unexplained weight gain (due to fluid retention)
These signs often build slowly, which is why they’re easy to overlook.
Diagnosing Diastolic Heart Failure
Recognizing the signs and symptoms is necessary to receive an accurate diagnosis and start your treatment. Any signs and symptoms you read above have a proper treatment. Thus, you must let your doctor know whatever you are experiencing. These are some of the ways your condition can be detected:
- Blood tests that can check for anemia or thyroid issues that can cause similar symptoms
- Listening to the heart for irregular rhythms and heart murmurs
- Checking pulses and blood pressure
- Review your medications for possible side effects.
These tests can help diagnose the condition accurately.
- Chest x-ray to look for enlargement of the heart
- EKG or electrocardiogram for checking the electrical signals of the heart
- Stress test to see how your heart responds to exertion or external stress
- Echocardiogram for evaluating how the heart muscles’ squeeze’ – relax, and measures the pressures.
Putting all the results together is how your doctor will make your diagnosis. The findings will help them realize what is causing their symptoms and, thus, the condition. Basing their diagnosis on these results will also help them recommend medicines to manage your symptoms.
It is imperative that you follow all instructions from your doctor and adhere to the lifestyle modifications, diet, and prescription medication they may provide.
Why Diagnosis Can Be Tricky?
One of the biggest frustrations with diastolic heart failure is that it doesn’t always show up clearly on basic tests.
For example:
- Routine ECGs may appear normal
- The ejection fraction may look “fine”
- Symptoms may overlap with other conditions
That’s why doctors rely heavily on:
- echocardiograms
- clinical history
- and symptom patterns over time
In many cases, diagnosis is about connecting patterns rather than spotting a single obvious issue.
Acute Vs Chronic Diastolic Heart Failure: What’s The Difference?
You may hear terms like acute and chronic diastolic heart failure, and they refer to how the condition shows up.
- Chronic diastolic heart failure develops gradually
- Symptoms build over time
- Often linked with long-term conditions like hypertension or diabetes
- Acute diastolic heart failure appears suddenly
- severe breathlessness
- rapid fluid buildup
- may require immediate hospitalization
Understanding the difference helps you recognize when symptoms are manageable vs when they need urgent care.
Diastolic Heart Failure Treatment
Depending on your symptoms and test results, your treatment plan will be tailored by your doctor. The following are the common treatment options:
1. Medications
Different medications can help improve the symptoms and your overall experience of the condition:
- ACE inhibitors and ARBs: When the underlying cause is high blood pressure, these medications help control the condition successfully. The drug helps open up the blood vessels and improve blood flow.
- This, in turn, decreases the workload. The common examples of this drug family include ramipril and lisinopril (one of the most common)
- Beta-blockers block the effect of adrenaline on your heart, which can help slow the heart rate and reduce blood pressure. Examples: Metoprolol, bisoprolol, carvedilol.
- Diuretics are also known as water pills because they help reduce fluid buildup, thereby reducing swelling. It achieves this by increasing the urine output. Some examples include Furosemide, spironolactone, and HCTZ.
- Finally, the use of digoxin has also been reported in atrial fibrillation. This drug helps strengthen the heart contractions and control the heart rate.
Can Diastolic Heart Failure Be Reversed?
This is one of the most common questions, and the answer needs nuance. In most cases, diastolic heart failure cannot be completely reversed, especially if structural changes in the heart have already occurred.
However:
- Symptoms can be significantly managed
- progression can be slowed or stabilized
- The quality of life can improve with consistent care
The goal of treatment is not just control, but preventing worsening heart function over time.
1. Lifestyle modifications
Certain lifestyle changes can help in improving the patient’s condition. No matter the underlying cause, these modifications have been proven helpful in controlling symptom severity.
These small changes can help you overcome this condition and manage the symptoms that you may be experiencing:
- Maintain a healthy body weight by adopting a good diet and exercising.
- Lower your salt intake to avoid fluid retention, and check the labels of food you buy from outside to watch the salt content.
- If there are underlying issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or sleep apnea, follow a proper treatment plan that can help you control it. It will reduce the pressure that falls on the heart.
- Enroll in a smoking cessation program if you are a smoker. The activity worsens the heart’s condition.
- Limit alcohol intake. Over-consumption of alcohol can lead to the development of cardiomyopathy.
- Stress-relieving activities can help control stress as it has a negative impact on heart health.
2. Medical procedures
When all other options fail, your doctor can help manage the condition through:
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillators
- In other cases, a heart transplant can also be an option, as patients with diastolic heart failure (HF) have a better outcome than systolic HF patients.
Lifestyle Changes That Will Actually Help You
This section discusses lifestyle modifications that can help manage symptoms more effectively. Here’s what can help you:
- Follow a heart-healthy diet. This includes:
- Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and heart-healthy fats such as nuts and olive oil. These are known to provide fiber and nutrients to the body.
- Control your intake of sodium, unhealthy fats, processed food, and sugars. Excess presence of these food items can lead to fluid retention, especially sodium, which can cause symptoms of heart failure.
- Portion control is another modification that can help you maintain a healthy weight that does not invite diseases. Obesity can strain your heart, and even a small weight loss can help.
Exercise regularly
- If your doctor approves, then start an exercise routine.
- The routine can include moderate exercise or walking, cycling, and swimming. This can help in strengthening your heart muscles.
- You can also add strength training and resistance training twice a week to your routine.
- Moreover, do not overdo the exercises, and rest well between them.
Limit alcohol intake
- This is a no-brainer. Heavy consumption of alcohol can be detrimental to your heart health. If you are a heavy drinker, then you must limit your consumption to at least 1 or 2 glasses.
Stop smoking
- Smoking can worsen your heart condition, especially worsening heart failure. You must quit the habit as soon as you can. Your doctor can help you through:
- Nicotine replacement products
- Medications that can mellow down the withdrawal symptoms and cravings
- Avoiding exposure to second-hand/passive smoking.
Daily Habits That Make A Noticeable Difference
Beyond medical treatment, small habits can have a big impact.
Some practical adjustments include:
- Weighing yourself daily to track fluid retention
- limiting salt intake consistently, not occasionally
- spacing out physical activity instead of overexerting
- getting enough rest after exertion
These habits don’t replace treatment. But they support it in ways medication alone cannot.
Complications That Are Seen
Following the recommendation of the doctor is important as it helps in
- Heart rhythm issues
- Worsening heart failure
- Fluid retention and edema
- High risk of stroke
These disorders can catch a person with diastolic heart failure sooner than someone else. This is because cardiovascular health is particularly compromised. Moreover, when you do not follow your healthcare provider’s instructions, you are more likely to invite these issues.
When Should You Seek Immediate Medical Help?
Not every symptom needs urgent care, but some do.
Seek medical attention immediately if you notice:
- sudden or severe shortness of breath
- chest pain (similar to silent heart attack symptoms)
- rapid swelling in the legs or abdomen
- fainting or extreme dizziness
These may indicate acute worsening of the condition and should not be ignored.
Long-Term Outlook: What Can You Expect?
Living with diastolic heart failure is not the same as losing control over your life.
With early detection and proper management:
- many people maintain stable, functional lives
- symptoms can be kept under control
- complications can be minimized
The key is consistency:
- sticking to medication
- managing underlying conditions
- and responding early to changes in your body
Book A Medical Check Today!
This was all on diastolic heart failure and the various treatment options that are available. The journey from recognizing the signs and receiving a diagnosis for the condition can be a long one.
However, it gets easier when you have the proper support: mental, physical, emotional, apart from medical support. The basic procedure for controlling the symptoms is to follow the advice given by your healthcare professional.
Additionally, you must ensure you are making the necessary lifestyle modifications when the underlying condition or risk factor points to a lifestyle change. The article lists the top lifestyle modification priorities that will surely help you.
Know more about the ways to manage this condition. Let us know in the comments below.
