Understanding Ejection Fraction

During each heartbeat, the heart contracts and relaxes. When your heart contracts, it pushes blood out of the two pumping chambers (ventricles). When your heart relaxes, the ventricles refill with blood. The term “ejection fraction” refers to the percentage of blood that’s pumped out of a filled ventricle with each heartbeat. This percentage helps your healthcare provider determine if you have heart failure or other kinds of heart disease.

Measuring EF
Ejection fraction is usually measured in the left ventricle (LV). This is the heart’s main pumping chamber. A normal LV ejection fraction is 50 to 75 percent. Your EF is usually measured by a simple, painless test called an echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to produce an image of your heart. If you have heart disease, your EF will be checked periodically. This lets your healthcare provider know if your condition is getting better or not. It will also help you set realistic goals to improve your number.

Ejection Fraction Numbers 50-75% — Heart's pumping ability is Normal 36-49% — Heart's pumping ability is Below Normal 35% & Below — Heart's pumping ability is Low Learn more about Ejection Fraction »

Many people who have survived a heart attack can benefit from an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD), a pacemaker-like device that treats ventricular fibrillation (VF), the deadly heart rhythm that causes sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

Several large clinical studies have been conducted in recent years to see if ICDs could help prevent or treat sudden cardiac death or sudden cardiac arrest in people whose heart muscle — and its pumping ability — is damaged by a heart attack. People in the studies had an ejection fraction (EF) of 40 or below. In these studies, survival rates were significantly greater for people with ICDs than for people who received traditional medical care.

Questions to ask your doctor or healthcare provider: Should I be concerned with my EF number? Do I need to have my EF rechecked? (And when?) Is there anything I should do about my EF? What else can I do to monitor my heart health? Do I need additional tests or treatments? Do I need to see another doctor who specializes in heart rhythm? When should my EF be checked next?

A Low EF
A low EF number is an early sign of heart failure. This is a condition where the heart doesn't pump enough blood to the rest of the body. With treatment, many people live well with heart failure. So if you have a low EF, it is important that you recognize the signs of heart failure, which may include:

• fatigue
• shortness of breath
• swelling in the feet

A low EF can also cause irregular heartbeat, which can make your heart stop pumping suddenly. Depending on your EF score, your healthcare provider may prescribe medications. But there is a lot you can do to improve how well your heart pumps.

What You Can Do

Limit Salt
Limiting sodium, or salt, to 2,000 mg a day is an important part of maintaining a healthy heart and treating heart failure. With a low EF, your kidneys get less blood than they should. This make them unable to rid the body of excess water and salt. So eating too much salt can lead to even more fluid buildup. It also increases your blood pressure, which makes your already weakened heart work harder.

Manage Your Fluids
With a low EF, blood can back up in your lungs and force fluid into the breathing spaces. The fluid then builds up, making it difficult to breathe. It can also cause weight gain and swelling. Your healthcare provider will tell you the amount of fluids you should have daily depending on your EF.

Exercise Regularly
Aerobic exercise can help strengthen your heart and improve how well it pumps blood to the rest of the body. All it takes is 30 minutes a day of activity, even if that activity is walking. Just be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about an exercise program that is right for you.

This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional’s instructions.