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Diaphragmatic Function In Cardiovascular Disease: Jacc Review Topic Of The Week., Husam M Salah, Lee R Goldberg, Jeroen Molinger, G Michael Felker, Willard Applefeld, Tienush Rassaf, Ryan J Tedford, Michael Mirro Md, Facc, Fhrs, Faha, John G F Cleland, Marat Fudim

Parkview Heart Institute

In addition to the diaphragm's role as the primary respiratory muscle, it also plays an under-recognized role in cardiac function. It serves as a pump facilitating venous and lymph return, modulating left ventricular afterload hemodynamics and pericardial pressures, as well as regulating autonomic tone. Heart failure (HF) is associated with diaphragmatic changes (ie, muscle fiber atrophy and weakness, increased ratio of type I to type II muscle fibers, and altered muscle metaboreflex) that lead to diaphragmatic dysfunction with subsequent symptomatic manifestations of HF. Herein, it is proposed that targeting the diaphragm in patients with HF via inspiratory muscle training or …