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We were recently asked to explain systolic heart failure. What topics would you like to see more information about?

Systolic heart failure is considered a left-sided heart failure. The heart's pumping action moves oxygen-rich blood as it travels from the lungs to the left atrium, then on to the left ventricle, which pumps it to the rest of the body. The left ventricle supplies most of the heart's pumping power, so it's larger than the other chambers and essential for normal function. In left-sided or left ventricular (LV) heart failure, the left side of the heart must work harder to pump the same amount of blood.

Systolic failure is heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF): The left ventricle loses its ability to contract normally. The heart can't pump with enough force to push enough blood into circulation. More blood that normal stay in the heart.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), also called diastolic failure (or diastolic dysfunction): The left ventricle loses its ability to relax normally (because the muscle has become stiff). The heart can't properly fill with blood during the resting period between each beat.