Systolic Heart Problems

Systolic heart problems affect more men than women. The symptoms of women who do suffer from systolic heart problems are usually less severe than those of their male counterparts. In the U.S., $35 billion is spent annually on the diagnosis and treatment of heart problems. When the heart is not working effectively, it can affect your quality of life. The best prevention is to educate yourself about heart health and be healthy so that problems don't arise.

Definition

• Systolic heart failure is a malfunction of the lower chambers in the heart. They may have become too weak to adequately pump the required amount of blood to the rest of the body. This weakness can create secondary problems because the ventricle is unable to empty properly, which can raise the blood pressure in the lower chambers.

Symptoms

• The symptoms for systolic heart problems are the same as those for diastolic problems. In addition to chest pain, irregular heartbeats and bulging neck veins, there are many more symptoms that should also be given attention, including fatigue, difficulty in performing routine activities, chest congestion or persistent cough, swelling of the legs, belly, ankles and feet, and shortness of breath without over-exertion.

Causes

• Systolic heart problems can be caused by any circumstance that impairs the heart's ability to pump effectively. Two of the most common causes are coronary artery disease (CAD) and high blood pressure. Diabetes can also contribute to systolic heart problems, particularly in women. Obesity, cigarette smoking and drug abuse also greatly contribute to systolic heart problems.

Diagnosis

• When you are just not feeling "quite right" it is time for a doctor's visit to your primary care physician. A routine history and physical will be performed. Based on the dialogue with your doctor, he or she will probably schedule an echocardiogram. This is a non-invasive, painless procedure that is very similar to an ultrasound. The echocardiogram will measure the size of your heart's chambers as well as the ejection fraction. This is the percentage of blood ejected out of a full chamber with each heartbeat.

Treatments

• Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the heart problem. The goal of treatment is to alleviate symptoms of the disease, slow its progression and improve your overall quality of life. The most common treatment is a "medicine cocktail" of three types of drugs that include a diuretic, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), and a beta-blocker. Surgical procedures that can correct systolic heart problems include bypass surgery, heart valve repair or replacement, and pacemaker and/or defibrillator placement.

Prevention

• The best prevention for systolic heart problems is to take care of yourself by eating right, maintaining a healthy weight, not abusing drugs, alcohol or cigarettes, and being proactive in with your health. If you aren't feeling well for an extended period of time, a trip to the doctor's office can help you improve your health and prevent complications of systolic heart problems.