Heart Failure Overview and Types

Which of the following describes the hallmark finding in systolic heart failure?

What condition is primarily indicated by impaired ability of the ventricles to relax and fill during diastole?

Which of the following is a common cause of systolic heart failure?

Which symptom is commonly associated with heart failure regardless of systolic or diastolic type?

What is a key feature of mixed systolic and diastolic heart failure?

Heart Failure (HF)

HF is an abnormal condition where the heart struggles to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
This leads to reduced ability to exercise, lower quality of life and shorter life expectancy.
A key characteristic is impaired ventricular function.

Systolic Failure

A hallmark of systolic failure is a decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF).
Causes include issues with the heart muscle's ability to contract (e.g., a previous heart attack), high blood pressure increasing resistance to blood flow (afterload), cardiomyopathy, or valve problems.

Diastolic Failure

Diastolic failure occurs when the ventricles have impaired relaxation and filling during diastole.
This results in decreased stroke volume and cardiac output.
Diagnosing diastolic failure involves looking for signs such as lung congestion, high blood pressure in the lungs, thickened heart muscle, and a normal ejection fraction (EF).

Mixed Systolic and Diastolic Failure

Some conditions, like dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), can present with a combination of systolic and diastolic HF.
These situations often result in poor ejection fractions.

Explore the critical aspects of heart failure, including its definition, types such as systolic and diastolic failure, and their characteristics. This quiz will help you understand the implications of impaired ventricular function and its impact on quality of life. Test your knowledge on the symptoms and diagnosis associated with heart failure.