Understanding Postdiastolic Dysfunction: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Postdiastolic refers to the period of time after the diastolic phase of a heartbeat. The diastolic phase is the period when the heart muscle is relaxed and the ventricles fill with blood. After this phase, the ventricles contract again, pumping blood out of the heart and into the circulatory system. This contraction is called the postdiastolic contraction.

In a normal heartbeat, the postdiastolic contraction begins just after the diastolic phase and lasts until the next heartbeat starts. During this time, the ventricles contract and pump blood out of the heart, maintaining the flow of blood through the circulatory system.

Postdiastolic dysfunction refers to abnormalities in the postdiastolic contraction of the heart muscle. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. Postdiastolic dysfunction can lead to decreased cardiac output, which can cause symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling in the legs and feet.