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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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Hello All:
Just a note to let you know about a new clinical study at Mayo regarding Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. This refers to percutaneous pericardial resection. Here is a link to a Connect discussion that will give you more information, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/heart-failure-with-preserved-ejection-fraction-hfpef/
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1 ReactionThe doctor gave an excellent quick analysis of what HFpEF really means. Unfortunately, he was unable to provide any hope that there will be any relief to fixing this problem in the near future. Although Mayo has just started another clinical trial in this area. I believe at best it will be a Band-Aid. My personal experience with Mayo has been rather disappointing in this area. When they diagnosed me almost 4 years ago, they offered absolutely no relief end it has been like pulling teeth to obtain input from them in trying to help myself. Overwhelmingly, cardiologists in America concentrate on cardiovascular disease and are largely ignorant of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Let us hope that Mayo will address this need more aggressively.
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2 ReactionsI was in hospital for 6 days with congestive heart failure, and told i have Stiff heart, has anyone been told they have stiff heart
Hi @susikelley, you'll notice that I moved your message to this existing discussion about stiff heart. Click VIEW & REPLY to see all posts of the discussion, including from Dr. Timimi, a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic. In this discussion you can also connect with members @harmonybentley @robschweiger @muriel66 @tcokeefe and others.
Susi, are you still in hospital? What rehab or lifestyle changes have been suggested for you?
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1 ReactionIt seems from what I have read that with diastolic dysfunction or early stage heart failure, there is basically nothing that can be done to improve it but that regular exercise like walking can help slow its progression. Is that correct?
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2 Reactions@tcokeefe .
Your cardiologist is the best person to ask about the best treatment and/or therapy for diastolic dysfunction. Often an ACE Inhibitor med can be helpful but of course your doctor should make that decision. Do you currently have symptoms?
What treatments has your doctor recommended?
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1 ReactionI am on valsartan. And the doctor has encouraged me to continue walking at least five times a week. I am also now on a statin to get my cholesterol down. I do not believe that is related to the diastolic heart failure. From everything various Cardiologist have told me, there are currently no treatments that can improve it or reverse it, but that the best thing you can do is to control your blood pressure and stay active
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2 ReactionsI have also been diagnosed with diastolic dysfunction, @tcokeefe. I'm wondering if you have any heart valve problems of if DD is your only heart-related diagnosis?
I do, although I am afraid I don’t know it’s name but I remember they said that it’s very minor and not an issue
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1 ReactionNo value problems. They say it happened do too high b.p and pulse. My test last oct showed heart was good it went from 65% to 40%in 8 months. The Cardiologist P.A. that i was seeing should of caught this!!