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Confused about Stiff Heart, Diastolic Heart Failure, or HFpEF?
Nearly half of all patients with heart failure have a normal EF or ejection fraction. EF is a percentage of how much blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction. Why is that?
To get some answers, and with Valentine’s Day just around the corner (what better way to celebrate than by learning about your heart), we sat down with Mayo Clinic cardiologist and heart failure specialist, Dr. Farris Timimi. In this video, Dr. Timimi explains the phenomenon of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction or HFpEF.
Do you have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (sometimes called Stiff Heart or Diastolic Heart Failure)? What limitations have you experienced with a HFpEF diagnosis? What has helped you?
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Reading all these comments with interest because last night I reviewed my EKG report from my one week appt. Following ablation for AFib and it said “chronic systolic heart failure”. NOTHING was said to me at the appt! Needless to say I am disturbed and distressed. This comes on top of a CT scan (prior to ablation) saying I have mild pulmonary hypertension. Also not addressed by the EP doctor. (I self referred to pulmonary who has determined I need oxygen supplement- also another shock - after failing the 6 minute walk test). I have messaged the EP office asking for an explanation/info regarding the HF diagnoses (of course this is a weekend). I too have normal ejection fraction (69%). I have mild sleep apnea so now have oxygen hooked up to my machine. Not aware I had oxygen desaturation at night. In fact I have been monitoring my oxygen levels and it’s always been in the 90s. My main symptom is SOB on exertion which I have blamed on AFib.I feel like things keep piling on and I’m buried in worry and stress. Thanks for listening 🥺
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1 ReactionSounds like HFPEF and that is causing the oxygen problems on exertion. I was diagnosed in September and they are playing with my meds. I am feeling better with Jardiance and Entresto, plus a diuretic. Have they done the right heart cath and left heart cath?
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1 ReactionI just had an ablation for AFib on Feb 10 and I can’t pause my blood thinner for 2-3 months. Apparently they plan to discuss the right heart cath at my appt with another cardiologist the end of March.
What is HFPEF? What were your symptoms.
Good for you for being so thorough and proactive. Sounds like exactly my experience over the past year. I was formerly Dx with HFpEF in Dec. Good luck with treatment and you’ll be ever so glad to have the oxygen.
Is your ejection fraction below 50%?
My cardiologist says he’d like to put me in heart meds, but I’m super sensitive to meds, and don’t really want to be on them.
The ejection fraction was 65% on the echo I had on 11-20-24, which also said I have mild pulmonary hypertension which is also scaring me!
What were your symptoms before diagnosis and now? I see in your other message you are not on meds? How do you use the oxygen? All the time? How do you live your life tied to oxygen? That's what is freaking me out. So far I'm only using it at night along with my CPAP.
Has anyone discussed magnesium? It relaxes and slows a pounding heart.
Every evening I do epsom salt foot soaks. If there is a time my heart pounds, the foot soaks help to calm my heart.