Confused about Stiff Heart, Diastolic Heart Failure, or HFpEF?

"My concern is whether or not exercise harms the heart that has diastolic dysfunction. I am interested in learning the type and amount of exercise that is appropriate for someone in the early stages of diastolic dysfunction. I also wonder if a hard pounding of each beat of the heart, which I have intermittently even when sitting, is related to diastolic dysfunction."
These are my questions too. I have asked my PCP and my cardiologist. They don't seem to know.

There is good data that suggests regular, moderate aerobic activity is helpful for patients with diastolic heart failure.

In general, a good rule of thumb is to exercise at 60% of your aerobic capacity-the easy way to tell is to exercise at a level that you can still speak in a seven word sentence.

No-it can suggest a risk but not a diagnosis.

I am new to this conversation and to my diagnosis of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. I came from Florida to Mayo Minnesota and received my diagnosis. Best care at Mayo/MN I have ever received and I have been in the health care field for over 40 years. Before coming to Mayo, I started pulmonary rehab. My cardiologist ordered it because she said my problem was pulmonary, not cardiac. That did not prove to be true, but it was the so helpful because in pulmonary rehab you are closely monitored and told to 'be the turtle', taking your time and doing the exercises correctly. I did all the same exercises I had been doing before, but I did them slower and rested in between. I could do the exercises and weight lifting under supervision and my shortness of breath has been substantially reduced. I now have my home set up like the rehab and slowly stay active. I hope this helps someone as we each need to find what works best for us.

Thank you!

I do exercise on a regular basis, but cannot do it daily because of the tremendous fatigue that accompanies exercise, @FarrisTimimi. Might this indicate that my heart meds need to be changed or is this typical? I also met with my endocrinologist recently who said that my magnesium level was at the low normal range (1.8) and that it was possible that when I exercise I go below the normal range and that causes muscle fatigue. I suppose that would affect the heart muscle as well? I have no edema.

I’ve been told to exercise 6 days per week. I usually manage 5-6 days and I walk 1 1/2 miles at 3 mph. I can do arm exercises with 3-5 lb. weights but no more than that. Consult with your Dr. first, of course. I was diagnosed 4 years ago and it all began with Afib. The heart pounding i’m not sure about. Hope this helps!!

I would encourage you to discuss this with your provider.

Research studies have shown that Entresto may help improve HFpEF. I thought you might be interested in learning more about this clinical trial from Mayo Clinic, which is open for participation: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03506412
The NIH-funded trial will evaluate the the efficacy of Entresto in patients who’ve been diagnosed with a stiff heart.