The heart becoming stiff due to increased fibrous tissue or decreased elasticity of the heart tissue is one of the earliest changes caused by heart failure. These changes can be detected by simple non-invasive echocardiogram techniques. However, these techniques usually detect the increased stiffness of the heart only after it has progressed to a significant extent. The investigators hypothesize that if they stress the heart using a Dobutamine infusion and measure the filling pressure using echocardiogram, it will provide them with tools to identify these changes earlier.~The investigators are planning to include people have normal heart function. It is standard procedure to measure cardiac pressure during catheterization. Simultaneously, the investigators will infuse Dobutamine (standard drug used for chemical stress testing, DSE). This drug increases the heart rate and mimics exercise in normal humans who are unable to exercise for various reasons. The investigators would continue to monitor the pressure inside the heart as they infuse Dobutamine and see of there is an increase in filling pressure. The investigators will correlate the invasive pressures with their echo derived measurements.~The investigators plan to include 25 veterans in this study. For each individual the study would increase the amount of time they will spend in the Catheterization Lab from 30 to 120 minutes. The entire procedure will be monitored by Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certified nurses and doctors.
The heart becoming stiff due to increased fibrous tissue or decreased elasticity of the heart tissue is one of the earliest changes caused by heart failure. These changes can be detected by simple non-invasive echocardiogram techniques. However, these techniques usually detect the increased stiffness of the heart only after it has progressed to a significant extent. The investigators hypothesize that if they stress the heart using a Dobutamine infusion and measure the filling pressure using echocardiogram, it will provide them with tools to identify these changes earlier.