Skip to main content
Blue Heart Banner

Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)


With preserved ejection fraction, the muscles in the heart chamber walls stiffen and thicken so the chamber cannot relax to fill with blood. This means the heart can’t pump out the blood the body needs.

Image of a normal heart muscle

Normal Heart


Strong muscular walls squeeze and relax to pump blood out to all the organs and other parts of the body.

Image of a thickened heart muscle

Heart Failure with preserved ejection fraction HFpEF


The heart muscle has become stiff and lost its ability to relax normally, so the heart can’t function as it should. About 50% of people with Heart Failure have HFpEF.

Most common symptoms

-

Lung Icon

Shortness of breath

Patients with Heart Failure often have trouble breathing as a symptom. They can experience trouble breathing during activity, as well as when at rest

Leg Icon

Swelling

Patients with Heart Failure may have swollen legs, feet, or ankles

Trouble sleeping Icon

Trouble breathing while sleeping or lying flat

Patients with Heart Failure often have trouble breathing in their sleep

Weight gain Icon

Rapid weight gain

Patients with Heart Failure can have sudden changes in weight—gaining 3 lbs or more in one day.
If you have Heart Failure and notice this symptom, call the doctor right away
 

Dry Cough Icon

Coughing

Patients with Heart Failure may be bothered by a nagging cough

icon-confusion

Confusion

Patients with Heart Failure may have a harder time maintaining attention or focus

Tired Icon

Fatigued or feeling tired

Patients with Heart Failure often feel exhausted or a lack of energy

Both types of Heart Failure share the same symptoms. Learn the differences.

Hear a real patient’s story


See how Cynthia discovered her HFpEF and what she does to stay on top of it.

Diagnosing Heart Icon

Diagnosing HFpEF


Diagnosing this kind of Heart Failure is more challenging because an ECG will show an ejection fraction in the normal range.
 

A process of elimination

When symptoms persist, doctors typically run a series of diagnostic tests. Eliminating other possibilities to arrive at a diagnosis of HFpEF can actually take up to a year and a half.

Blue Heart Banner

What it may take to diagnose

Your doctor may suggest one or more of these tests to measure your ejection fraction:

  • Clinical signs of Heart Failure 

  • Evidence of preserved or normal Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) 

  • Evidence of abnormal Left Ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction that can be determined by Doppler echocardiography or cardiac catheterization

Heart Failure Handbook Image

Sign up for a free Heart Failure Handbook

Get a free Heart Failure Handbook when you register for the Keep It Pumping support program. It’s filled with useful tips and tools to help you manage the condition.

Doctor Discussion Guide Image

Start prepping for the conversation

Get a Doctor Discussion Guide for a personalized conversation that can help you and your doctor decide on the best ways to manage your Heart Failure.