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Ejection fraction of heart
My Ejection fraction of heart value is 69%. Is it safe or need precaution?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The ejection fraction is a measure of the amount of blood pumped out of the left ventricle with each heartbeat. Anything above 55% is considered normal.
I am not angry with anybody but just wanted to know normal range of EF%.My son is a MBBS doctor and daughter also BDS doctor.My son assured i have nothing to be worry for heart but should be careful maintain BP,I have high bp (95/180)but now (85/135)controlled using atenolol 50 mg.When browse net i found someone saying EF normal range is 50-60%.Some one saying high EF% means good heart and low EF% means bad heart.Thanks everyone answering and kind cooperation.
My cardiologist says anything in the range 50-75 is normal. However, an EF doesn't reflect how many blockages there are or how severe they are. If the heart is receiving sufficient oxygen at rest, then the EF on an echo will normally look great. When ischaemia is present during stress, the EF still looks great in most cases. I think EF will reflect heart problems such as valve issues, very high blood pressure or when the muscle has become severely affected by lack of oxygen (over compensation (adaptation)).
csmuna, Your heart is more efficient than it has to be, and this is why it isn't necessary for ALL the blood to be pumped out with each beat. Only half is enough.
I have often wondered though. Imagine a heart running at 180bpm, that's a beat every .33 seconds. In .33 seconds it would have to contract the ventricles, relax them, contract the atria, relax them, then start again. If the ventricles were 100% empty, could they refill within .33 seconds?
csmuna, Your heart is more efficient than it has to be, and this is why it isn't necessary for ALL the blood to be pumped out with each beat. Only half is enough.
I have often wondered though. Imagine a heart running at 180bpm, that's a beat every .33 seconds. In .33 seconds it would have to contract the ventricles, relax them, contract the atria, relax them, then start again. If the ventricles were 100% empty, could they refill within .33 seconds?
I respect that, but it's not illegal for members to comment the posts. It's not arranged by MedHelp in any way.
The reason I added something to this thread was because your questions was easy to answer even for a patient like me. The reply you are referring to tells you that 50-69% is the normal range, higher means that your heart is beating forcefully. You are in the normal range and I can't understand why you are confused.
Just wanted to clear that up. I'll never reply to your posts again if it bothers you.
The reason I added something to this thread was because your questions was easy to answer even for a patient like me. The reply you are referring to tells you that 50-69% is the normal range, higher means that your heart is beating forcefully. You are in the normal range and I can't understand why you are confused.
Just wanted to clear that up. I'll never reply to your posts again if it bothers you.
Dear MedHelp please reply by a doctor not non doctor member.I am confused.Please note another reply :-
MedHelp Member's Question
EJECTION FRACTION %
by STAN-SMITH, Mar 16, 1999 12:00AM
I would like to understand better the term Ejection Fraction. I have been
hospitalized months ago with Congestive Heart Failure, during the past
few months in talk with many health care people this term keeps coming
up. I am on long term disibility now, and during my last visit it was
stated my Ejection Fraction was between 15 and 20. I know from reading
anything below 35 is reason for concern and >55 is considered normal.
i have the clasic symptons the most concern is the shortness of breath
walking or trying to climb a few sstars. I have two questions;(1)The Ejection of 15 to 20, how does that rate as far as cause for alarm;(2)
Understanding the number itself, I was told some people in good shape
have numbers in the 80 to 85 range.If >55, is normal and some people
are as high as 80 to 85,is this based on 100% and do some reach this
range, if so >55, seems the only a little over half of the heart action
is being performed? I know there is a logical explenation to these numbers
I'm just not seeing it now. You explination would be greatly appreciated.
Stan
by Cleveland Clinic, MD , Mar 16, 1999 12:00AM
_
Dear Stan
Thank you for your question. Ejection fraction (EF) is a measurement of how well the heart is pumping. It represents a percentage of the total blood volume in the left ventricle that is pumped (ejected) with each beat of the heart. As with any pump not all of the liquid is pumped out with each cycle. Normal EF is in the 50-60% range. Values higher than this are termed "hyperdynamic", meaning that the heart is forcefully contracting. The lower the EF the worse the heart function. A general breakdown of values is as follows: 40-50 % mild dysfunction; 25 - 39% moderate dysfunction; < 25% severe dysfunction.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specificdiagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem. "
MedHelp Member's Question
EJECTION FRACTION %
by STAN-SMITH, Mar 16, 1999 12:00AM
I would like to understand better the term Ejection Fraction. I have been
hospitalized months ago with Congestive Heart Failure, during the past
few months in talk with many health care people this term keeps coming
up. I am on long term disibility now, and during my last visit it was
stated my Ejection Fraction was between 15 and 20. I know from reading
anything below 35 is reason for concern and >55 is considered normal.
i have the clasic symptons the most concern is the shortness of breath
walking or trying to climb a few sstars. I have two questions;(1)The Ejection of 15 to 20, how does that rate as far as cause for alarm;(2)
Understanding the number itself, I was told some people in good shape
have numbers in the 80 to 85 range.If >55, is normal and some people
are as high as 80 to 85,is this based on 100% and do some reach this
range, if so >55, seems the only a little over half of the heart action
is being performed? I know there is a logical explenation to these numbers
I'm just not seeing it now. You explination would be greatly appreciated.
Stan
by Cleveland Clinic, MD , Mar 16, 1999 12:00AM
_
Dear Stan
Thank you for your question. Ejection fraction (EF) is a measurement of how well the heart is pumping. It represents a percentage of the total blood volume in the left ventricle that is pumped (ejected) with each beat of the heart. As with any pump not all of the liquid is pumped out with each cycle. Normal EF is in the 50-60% range. Values higher than this are termed "hyperdynamic", meaning that the heart is forcefully contracting. The lower the EF the worse the heart function. A general breakdown of values is as follows: 40-50 % mild dysfunction; 25 - 39% moderate dysfunction; < 25% severe dysfunction.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specificdiagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem. "
The MH doctor probably won't go into great detail and only suggest that you see your personal physician as they can't examine you; the information gained here should be used solely for learning/educational purposes.
I'm confused by something though in the post from 1999 - "Normal EF is in the 50-60% range"; I've never read or heard that; my dr's told me and I read <35% is something to worry about and anything 50-70% is considered "normal" ;maybe the normal has changed since then since this is such an old post?
the doctors here do this as a service to us in their spare time and sometimes get overwhelmed with questions; so some members may have experience sometimes even the dr's don't have - like myself with quirky EF numbers ANS issues etc that many doctors do not have direct knowledge of; is_something_wrong is a community leader in the heart rhythm forum and has a wealth of information and knowledge =)
I'm confused by something though in the post from 1999 - "Normal EF is in the 50-60% range"; I've never read or heard that; my dr's told me and I read <35% is something to worry about and anything 50-70% is considered "normal" ;maybe the normal has changed since then since this is such an old post?
the doctors here do this as a service to us in their spare time and sometimes get overwhelmed with questions; so some members may have experience sometimes even the dr's don't have - like myself with quirky EF numbers ANS issues etc that many doctors do not have direct knowledge of; is_something_wrong is a community leader in the heart rhythm forum and has a wealth of information and knowledge =)
I'm not a doctor (he will answer later) but from normal values your EF couldn't have been better. High normal should indicate a strong healthy heart and as long as the rest of your echo report is fine, your heart is great!
EF is confusing because we believe 100% is normal. The heart never pumps out all it's blood, so >50% is defined as normal. The upper limit can vary a bit depending on which doctor you ask. Some say 70% is upper limit, but I've heard upper limits as high as 85%. My EF is 80% but I was nervous during the echo test, so it probably made my heart beat stronger than it usually does.
EF is confusing because we believe 100% is normal. The heart never pumps out all it's blood, so >50% is defined as normal. The upper limit can vary a bit depending on which doctor you ask. Some say 70% is upper limit, but I've heard upper limits as high as 85%. My EF is 80% but I was nervous during the echo test, so it probably made my heart beat stronger than it usually does.
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