Diastolic dysfunction

[Alyjod3]

I have posted in other heart communities and can't get any information from anyone.  I have read that diastolic dysfunction leads to half of heart failures so I'm hoping someone here has some information.  I was told by my cardiologist that my heart doesn't relax properly.  It takes a little longer to relax.  He says they don't usually see this in people my age (28). But he really didn't give me any information about it,  he didn't seemed concerned at all.  Just told me to come back in 3 months.  And said in extreme cases it can cause heart failure.  
I have read that the biggest cause of this is high blood pressure. Which I don't have.  And haven't had any other heart problems until lately.  Just palpitations. So I am wanting to know what all could cause this,  how can you keep it from getting worse? Is it something really serious that I should be very concerned about?

[Jason216]

Its very scary and frustrating, especially when you know u don't meet any of the criteria for a condition like this (high bp, smoking, obesity etc.). Just discovered I have this after accessing my echo results, otherwise I wouldn't have even known.

How are you doing now?

[Alyjod3]

I went to my pcp doctor today and took in my echo results.  She said I also have a mild murmur.  I told her I wanted to get started on finding the underlying cause of the heart issues.  She said today my BP was normal but sometimes it is low.  And that I do not have hypertension.  

She had my blood drawn to test for thyroid disorders,  rheumatoid arthritis,  lupus,  and a few other things.  She told me to go ahead and start taking a baby aspirin a day.  And gave me . 5 MG of klonopin 2 times a day for the anxiety.  She also said she would talk to my cardiologist to see why he didn't put me on a medicine to help my heart relax. She said he might be concerned that it will drop my BP too much.  

[Danago88]

I suppose it's best to confirm with the doctor, but to me it sounds like Grade I based on the "minor" wording and based on the wording you used earlier about slower relaxation.  I think Grade II involves elevated atrial pressures and other problems.

[Alyjod3]

See I don't know what grade I have.  The paper just said LV diastolic dysfunction.  And the cardiologist said it was minor. How do you know what grade it is?

[Danago88]

I was also afraid to exercise.  I started in the pool doing laps for 20-30 minutes a day for four weeks. Then I put on my running shoes and hit the street.  I would run four mailbox and walk four and when that was too much I would change the count to make less running.  If I felt I could do more I would change the count to run more.  In the first few months every time I kicked it up a notch I could feel mild fluttering or palpitations after exercising, but eventually that went away and I believe the palpitations are largely under control now because of exercise.  I never feel them from exercise, but only from when I get upset, angry, or fearful. I'm now running a pretty good distance as in like several blocks at a time.  In the beginning I got a heart monitor watch and band and I didn't go over 150 beats per minute.  Now I'm not afraid to get it to 165 or so but I will stop at 170.  I asked my doctor multiple times and he said there were no restrictions on my exercise.  Do cardio as much as you can.  Only listen to your body and don't over do it.  That was all he said for my and mild grade I diastolic dsyfunction.  

[Alyjod3]

I thank you for your information.  What kind of exercise have you been doing.  I know I've read that people with this may exercise less because they get short of breath easily,  I have also read that one thing you should do is to try to keep your heart rate down.  So I feel like doing very much exercising and getting your heart rate up high wouldn't be very good.

[Danago88]

I understand. You definitely have to get your anxiety under control and start exercising daily if you aren't already.  For me it was a sign that I have to begin taking care of my body.  I was always told to check my blood pressure and keep a log and I just said blah blah blah I'm too young for that there's nothing wrong with me. But I should've listened.  I will have to look for a way to private message you on this site. I don't use it very often. When I first logged in I didn't get much of a response and just didn't come back. Your post here came in my email on Google alerts for diastolic dysfunction. I'm looking for a way to give you access to that part of my library but I probably won't want to post the information publicly.  I know it's really scary. But you could make it better by eating right and exercising and finding all the heart healthy things you can do to help especially reducing stress. After they started me on beta blockers I started to black out and they did a tilt table test I'm give me a second diagnosis of severe dysautonomia. They say it's unrelated to the diastolic dysfunction but it all seems pretty related to me I've been researching for months it's crazy and you can drive yourself crazy just thinking about it but really you have to live your life for today each moment.   The more you stress and fear your diagnosis the further away from the moment you are so try to relax and just learn as much as you can about the problem and what you can do about it. That's just my advice based on my experience over the last six months.  I'll start fishing around tomorrow again

[Alyjod3]

I have 3 children.  After the 3rd I had high blood pressure but just a couple times.  And my blood pressure will get up to about 136/88 or so when I'm having problems with anxiety.  I was really hoping that the chest pains and flutters I was getting was from anxiety or thyroid.  So I was very very upset to find out there was actually a problem with my heart because since I was a little kid my biggest fear has been heart problems.  And there doesn't seem to be a lot of information about diastolic dysfunction.  

[Danago88]

and there's just a lot they don't know!  

[Danago88]

if you don't have hypertension it's much better though!  Hypertension and peripheral vascular disease increase the chance of progression.  I think stage I or mild diastolic dysfunction can reverse.  But you have to make lifestyle changes.  Oh and if you are already an athlete, that can also be the cause but that involves a different set of criteria. If that makes any sense

[Danago88]

the cardiologist said hypertension, lack of physical activity and overweight was the cause.  I was in school and wasn't taking very good care.  No time for exercise then but lost 40 lbs since.  It scared me!  That fear kept me going with diet and exercise.  But my mother died from heart failure at 28 and I was afraid the same was happening to me.  She had 4 child births though and I have had none.  I will share what I have with you.  I just have to get tony PC at home.  I've read that just under 50% of cases progress.  You could also have intermittent hypertension you aren't aware of that is coming up clean at the doc appts....

[Alyjod3]

What was the cause of how you development this

[Danago88]

i am 44 and rcd the same news in July.  Have a wealth of data I can share her later.  I know it's scary and frustrating.  I'm still working to figure it out but I've collected a lot of info in my Diigo library I can share.

[Ger57]

It is quite common for older people (the mild form). See my reply in Heart Health forum