To find out the EF%, you can just go for 2D Echo Cardiogram with Colour Doppler test. This is a non invasive test and economical.
An ejection fraction is the percentage of blood pumped out of a heart chamber during the contraction phase of each heartbeat (systole). The term typically refers to a measurement of the left ventricle (the lower left chamber of the heart), which pumps oxygen-rich blood out to the body through the aorta. An ejection fraction can also be measured in the right ventricle (the lower right chamber), which pumps blood returning from the body to the lungs for oxygen. However, this measurement is nearly always referred to as a right ventricular ejection fraction.
Even in a healthy heart, some blood always remains within the heart chambers after each heartbeat. Therefore an ejection fraction is a percentage of the blood within the chamber that is pumped out with every heartbeat. Normally, the left ventricle pumps 55 to 75 percent of the blood within that chamber out to the body with each heartbeat. A higher than normal ejection fraction could indicate the presence of certain heart conditions , such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Tips to Repair your Heart !
An ejection fraction of less than 40 may indicate heart failure ,a chronic condition in which at least one heart chamber is not pumping well enough to meet the body’s needs. Heart failure leads to congestion of blood vessels and fluid backup and swelling in the lungs, legs and ankles, shortness of breath, and fatigue. An ejection fraction between 40 and 50 percent may indicate damage to the heart muscle (e.g., from a prior heart attack). Typically, this EF level alone is not low enough to lead to heart failure.
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
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. 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. 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).
Measuring Your Ejection Fraction
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:
- MUGA scan (Multiple Gated Acquisition Scan).
- CAT scan (Computed Axial Tomography Scan) .
- Cardiac catheterization.
- Stress test or nuclear stress test.
- T-Wave Assessment.
A Low Ejection Fraction is a Serious Health Risk
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
A low ejection fraction may result from some kind of cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart is abnormally enlarged, thickened or stiffened. Low EF is an important risk factor for sudden cardiac death (SCD), a condition that occurs when the heart stops abruptly (cardiac arrest), usually as a result of ventricular fibrillation. Patients with a low EF are significantly more likely to suffer sudden cardiac death within two years than patients with a normal ejection fraction.
