diast

Diast is a term that may appear in medical writing as an abbreviation related to diastole, the phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart relaxes and fills with blood. The diastolic phase is essential for ventricular filling and overall cardiac output. The word diastole comes from Greek diastolē, meaning expansion or opening, and the term is commonly contrasted with systole, the contraction phase.

In clinical practice, DIAST or diast may be used in notes and reports to indicate diastolic values or events, such as diastolic blood pressure, diastolic time, or diastolic function. However, "diast" is not a universally standardized abbreviation, and its precise meaning depends on the clinical context and the conventions of the institution or charting system.

Outside medical usage, the term Diast is rarely encountered as a standalone word; if used, it may serve as a proper noun in branding, fiction, or project names, but such uses are not widely standardized or universally recognized. In most reference works and clinical texts, diastole and diastolic are the preferred terms, and readers should rely on surrounding context to determine the intended meaning of the abbreviation. See also diastole, diastolic.