Heart Health

What is diastolic dysfunction?

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I had an echocardiogram and the report says I have mild diastolic dysfunction. What does that mean?

Sometimes, because of certain medical conditions or old age, the ventricles — the heart's main pumping chambers — become stiff and unable to relax normally. That limits the amount of blood that can collect for the next heartbeat. Because each contraction pumps less blood, the heart has to work harder to make up for the shortfall.

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