Tuesday, November 25, 2008
(When I learned a had an ejection fraction of 35 after a severe heart attack, I was severely depressed and anxious. That was three years ago. Apparently I am still alive, and the ejection fraction hasn't changed. I can walk for several hours; this "functional capacity" was of more interest to my doctors at the Mayo Clinic than the ejection fraction. -- sparker)
(When I learned a had an ejection fraction of 35 after a severe heart attack, I was severely depressed and anxious. That was three years ago. Apparently I am still alive, and the ejection fraction hasn't changed. I can walk for several hours; this "functional capacity" was of more interest to my doctors at the Mayo Clinic than the ejection fraction. -- sparker)
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Ejection Fraction & Its Importance
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Ejection Fraction is a key indicator of a healthy heart and is frequently used by physicians to determine how well your heart is functioning as a pump.
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Ejection Fraction is the percentage of blood that is pumped out of the heart during each beat. In a healthy heart, 50 to 75 percent of the blood is pumped out during each beat. Many people with heart disease or heart failure pump out less than 50% and many people with heart failure pump out less than 40%.'
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Ejection Fraction is one of the many ways doctors classify the type and severity of heart failure and damage to the heart muscle..Ejection Fraction Ranges
Ejection Fraction is a key indicator of a healthy heart and is frequently used by physicians to determine how well your heart is functioning as a pump.
.
Ejection Fraction is the percentage of blood that is pumped out of the heart during each beat. In a healthy heart, 50 to 75 percent of the blood is pumped out during each beat. Many people with heart disease or heart failure pump out less than 50% and many people with heart failure pump out less than 40%.'
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Ejection Fraction is one of the many ways doctors classify the type and severity of heart failure and damage to the heart muscle..Ejection Fraction Ranges
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An Ejection Fraction above 50 percent indicates that your heart is pumping normally and able to deliver an adequate supply of blood to your body and brain.
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An Ejection Fraction that falls below 50 percent could indicate that the heart is no longer pumping efficiently and not able to meet the body's needs. .
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An Ejection Fraction of 35 percent or less indicates a weakened heart muscle and that the heart is pumping poorly, which can significantly increase a person's risk for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).
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Measuring Your Ejection Fraction
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For heart patients, knowing your Ejection Fraction is just as important as knowing your cholesterol and blood pressure. Ejection Fraction is often measured using an echocardiogram, a simple and painless test often performed right in the doctor's office, but it can also be measured with other tests including:
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MUGA scan (Multiple Gated Acquisition Scan)CAT scan (Computed Axial Tomography Scan)Cardiac catheterizationStress test or nuclear stress testT-Wave Assessment
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A Low Ejection Fraction is a Serious Health Risk
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Recent medical research shows that people with an Ejection Fraction of 35% or lower may be at increased risk of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). If you have a low Ejection Fraction, your doctor may prescribe medications, recommend lifestyle adjustments or suggest other therapies.
