Hello @brittalisse,

I remember us discussing your mom's breathing problems in our Parkinson's discussion group. I also have a Parkinson's disorder as well as aortic insufficiency, left bundle branch block and diastolic dysfunction. Even with all of this background, I am not always sure of what symptoms relate to what disorder - it can be confusing to say the least!

Regarding the diastolic dysfunction ("DD"), I understand that it is a mild form of heart failure - if there are no other symptoms such as edema in the extremities or around the heart or lungs. This seems to be my case at present. While I have had DD for a number of years, there is no leg, ankle or feet swelling, however, I do have some accumulation of fluid at night in my chest. I still have a strong ejection fraction - so it all looks good on paper 🙂

You don't mention your mom's age nor her physical activity level but in my own case, I've learned that physical activity is important for both the Parkinson's as well as the heart issues. While I'm certainly not able to do aerobic work-outs anymore, I do attend PD exercises classes (PD dance classes can all be done in a chair) and I've ordered some PD dance DVDs as well as other PD exercise DVDs. Tai-Chi is also offered and is very, very, very good for PD. It helps with memory, range of motion, and lots of other things. I would encourage you to attend some of these classes with your mom (as many caregivers do) as it will benefit both of you.

It is easy to get overwhelmed when you are dealing with a multitude of health problems that involve different body systems, but always remember that exercise, exercise, exercise is key to keeping flexible and healthy as we age, no matter what our medical paperwork says about us. It is important to realize that we each have some control over our health!

Teresa