Skip to main content

Diastolic Dysfunction

Meaning

Diastolic dysfunction refers to an impairment in the heart’s ability to relax and fill with blood properly during diastole, the resting phase between heartbeats. This condition occurs when the left ventricle becomes stiff or non-compliant, necessitating higher filling pressures to achieve adequate ventricular filling. Although systolic function may be preserved initially, this inefficiency can lead to symptoms of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Endocrine factors, particularly metabolic syndrome and chronic hormonal imbalances, frequently contribute to the myocardial remodeling underlying this pathology.