CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

Which type of heart failure is indicated if the heart cannot fill adequately during diastole?

1. Systolic heart failure

2. Diastolic heart failure

3. Congestive heart failure

4. Acute heart failure

The correct answer is: Diastolic heart failure

Diastolic heart failure is characterized by the heart's inability to fill properly during the diastolic phase, which is when the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers fill with blood. In this condition, the heart often has a normal ejection fraction but exhibits a stiffened ventricle that cannot accommodate normal volumes of blood during filling. This can lead to increased pressures in the heart and pulmonary circulation, commonly resulting in symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue. In contrast, systolic heart failure primarily involves the heart's failure to contract effectively, leading to reduced ejection fraction and inadequate pumping of blood into circulation. Congestive heart failure is a general term that can describe both types of heart failure and focuses on the fluid overload aspect rather than specifically addressing the mechanics of diastolic filling. Acute heart failure refers to a sudden onset of heart failure symptoms, which can occur with either diastolic or systolic mechanisms, thus not specifically indicating the filling problem described.