In short, Diastolic Heart Failure is a disease of age. Heart ages and wears down, like other organs,performing less than expected.

Diastolic failure is typically seen in elderly patients and is considered to be an increase in stiffness of the heart with mild dysfunction of the left ventricle. It is so common in patients over 65 age, that it’s considered to be a sign of aging . Before we diagnose Diastolic Heart Failure as an aging process, other less common causes should be ruled out: uncontrolled hypertensive or valvular heart disease, hypertrophic or restrictive cardiomyopathy, or ischemia.

There are two types of heart failure – systolic and diastolic.

The more common Systolic heart failure has low Ejection Fraction; weak, dilated and flabby heart.

Diastolic heart failure has normal Ejection Fraction; bulky, thick, small heart

Diastolic Heart failure presents with the following symptoms

SOB with minimal walking or incline

Leg swelling

SOB while sleeping

Excessive fatigue

Normal blood pressure but elevated with minimal walking