Lower-body Pressure Suit to Ease Shortness of Breath During Exercise in Heart Failure

This trial is testing a non-invasive device called lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) — essentially a specialized suit that gently reduces pressure around your lower body — to see if it can help people with preserved ejection fraction heart failure exercise longer and feel less short of breath. The device works by reducing the amount of blood returning to your heart during exercise, which may help prevent fluid buildup in your lungs. Researchers want to understand whether this treatment can improve your ability to exercise and reduce the discomfort of breathing during physical activity.

Many people with preserved ejection fraction heart failure struggle with severe shortness of breath during exercise, which often leads them to avoid activity and become more deconditioned. Currently, there are very few treatment options beyond water pills and supervised exercise, so researchers are testing whether lower-body negative pressure could be a new, safe way to reduce these symptoms and help people stay more active.