This study was undertaken to observe the changes in heart function and evaluate the effects of nifedipine on diastolic function in 70 patients with uncomplicated hypertension by M-mode and Doppler echocardiography. The results showed that diastolic abnormalities in hypertensive patients may precede systolic dysfunction and that nifedipine can improve diastolic function. It is easy and quick to estimate the diastolic function by measuring the EF slope, EA and EPSS, especially the E wave velocities. This method proved to be applicable to clinical practice.