If you or a loved one is experiencing shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling in your legs and ankles, you may be concerned about the root cause. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling may be an indicator of heart failure. Heart failure occurs when your heart struggles to pump blood properly.
Diastolic heart failure occurs when the heart's lower chambers (ventricles) become stiff and cannot relax properly. The condition is also known as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
Diastolic heart failure limits the lower heart chambers’ ability to fill with blood between heartbeats, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue. Even though the heart still pumps well, its reduced ability to fill with blood can lead to health challenges and make everyday activities – like household chores or taking a walk – more difficult.
If you have diastolic heart failure, you may experience symptoms such as:
- Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity or when lying down
- Fatigue
- Sudden weight gain
- Swelling and fluid buildup in the abdomen, ankles, feet or legs, also known as edema
- Increased or irregular heart rate (You may feel palpitations or like your heart is racing)
- Difficulty sleeping
While diastolic heart failure is serious, you can work with your cardiologist to manage symptoms. There’s no cure for diastolic heart failure, and it can be challenging to treat. However, with proper medical care, lifestyle changes and ongoing support from their care team, many patients can enjoy a better quality of life.
You can greatly reduce your risk of any serious cardiovascular condition by maintaining heart-healthy habits, including:
- Eating a heart-healthy diet, low in sodium, fat and cholesterol
- Getting plenty of exercise (if your doctor says it’s OK). Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week.
- Losing weight if you are overweight
- Managing any medical conditions that can damage the heart, such as diabetes, kidney disease or sleep apnea
- Managing stress
- Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol
- Taking any daily medications recommended by your doctor
- Working with your primary care provider to lower your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol
You are more likely to develop heart failure as you age, because the heart can weaken and stiffen as you get older. Most people who have heart failure first had another type of heart condition, such as coronary artery disease. You’re also at risk for heart disease if you have:
- High blood pressure
- Metabolic syndrome (a collection of conditions that include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and excess body fat around the waist)
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Chronic kidney disease
- Sleep apnea
Smoking, excess weight or obesity, drug or alcohol misuse, and certain types of chemotherapy or radiation also increase your risk of heart disease.
Your first visit to UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute’s advanced heart failure program will last about 40 minutes. In addition to meeting with your physician, you may also meet other team members. These may include a nurse coordinator, nurse practitioner and pharmacist. During your visit, you’ll discuss any symptoms you’ve noticed. Your cardiologist also will review your imaging and other test results. If you have not already had an echocardiogram, cardiopulmonary exercise test or other necessary testing, your team will order them for you.
During your visit, your team will provide details about:
- How heart failure may affect your life
- How to properly manage the disease with medicines and lifestyle changes
- Available treatment options
- If you have questions about heart failure, your team will answer them. They’ll also guide you toward resources to further understand and manage the condition.
To make the most of your appointment, take the following steps:
- Ask a loved one to join you. A family member or friend can help take notes or remember questions you need to ask of your care team.
- Bring your insurance plan information. UK HealthCare accepts most insurance providers. A member of our team can help confirm your coverage, and financial assistance is available if needed.
- Write down all the medicines or supplements you take, along with the dosage and frequency. Better yet, bring your medicine bottles to your appointment.
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Though you won’t undergo any imaging exams at your first visit, you will have to walk a bit to reach your appointment.
Where we are located
The UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute is located at 800 Rose St. in Pavilion G, on the first floor of UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital. We will mail you a map and directions when your appointment is scheduled.
Patient drop-off
Patients can be dropped off in front of the main entrance to Albert B. Chandler Hospital at 1000 S. Limestone. If you are dropped off at the main entrance, you’ll enter the revolving doors on the ground floor of the hospital. Take the main stairs just to the left (or elevator across the atrium) to the first floor of Pavilion A.
After climbing the stairs or taking the elevator, turn left. You’ll pass the Kentucky Wall and Kentucky Children’s Hospital on your right. Continue to the end of the hall until it comes to a T shape. Turn left and the Gill clinic entrance is across from an open area housing the organ donor wall.
Parking
It is easiest to park in the UK HealthCare Parking Garage, across from the hospital at 110 Transcript Ave.
There are two paths from this garage to the Gill clinic:
- You may take the free shuttle from Level A of the parking garage. You’ll exit the shuttle at the Pavilion A/ Pavilion G stop in front of the main entrance to the hospital. After climbing the stairs or taking the elevator, turn left. You’ll pass the Kentucky Wall and Kentucky Children’s Hospital on your right. Continue to the end of the hall until it comes to a T shape. Turn left and the Gill clinic entrance is across from an open area housing the organ donor wall.
- From Level C of the parking garage you may walk or take a golf cart across the pedway to the first floor of Pavilion A. Turn left past the help desk and walk away from the dining hall. You’ll pass the Kentucky Wall and Kentucky Children’s Hospital on your right. Continue to the end of the hall until it comes to a T shape. Turn left and the Gill clinic entrance is across from an open area housing the organ donor wall.
If you need help finding your way, information desks are located inside the main entrances to Pavilion A, both on the ground floor and at the end of the pedway on the first floor. You may also call the information desk at 859-323-5816.
By turning to UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute’s advanced heart failure program, you have access to ongoing clinical trials. At any given time, we’re researching new devices, medications or interventions to help shape the future of heart failure care. If you’re eligible for a clinical trial, your care team will notify you. Team members then educate you on the purpose, methods and length of the trial, so you can determine whether you would like to be part of the trial. Participation in all clinical trials is voluntary.
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