The norm of the ejection fraction of the heart on ultrasound: how to determine the reasons for the decrease in the rate. Decreased and elevated ejection fraction of the heart

Such a value as the ejection fraction of the heart, is characterized by the amount of blood released into the aorta during contraction. If this indicator decreases, this indicates a deterioration in the performance of the organ and the possible occurrence of heart failure.

When the fraction is very low, less than 30%, then the person is in serious danger. At rest, the left ventricle stores the blood that has come from the atrium. With a contractile movement, it throws out a certain amount of it into the vascular bed.

The ejection fraction (EF) of the left ventricle is calculated as the ratio of the volume of blood entering the aorta to its amount in the left ventricle during relaxation. This is the percentage of the volume of ejected body fluid.

What it is

EF is considered a common indicator that an ultrasound machine can provide. These data indicate the quality of the work of the heart during contraction. During the entire process, the volume of blood that has left the left ventricle into the vascular bed is measured and displayed as a percentage.

The measurement is done in the left ventricle, from here the blood goes to the systemic circulation. When the indicator drops, this indicates that the heart cannot contract at full strength and there is a lack of blood volume in the body. With minor violations, this situation can be corrected by medication..

Usually, studies are prescribed when a patient complains of shortness of breath, tachycardia, dizziness, fainting, fatigue, pain in the heart or behind the sternum, swelling of the extremities. Initially, a biochemical blood test and an electrocardiogram are shown.

Sometimes Holter monitoring or ultrasound is performed for a complete picture.

How is the emission rate calculated?

There is a calculation formula. To do this, the stroke volume is multiplied by the heart rate. This is how you get the right size. The result will tell you how much volume is pushed out in one minute. In general, the normal indicator should reach approximately 5.5 liters.

Formulas for calculating the ejection fraction

In medicine, they also use special programs that automatically calculate the fraction. For this, the Teicholz formula, Simpson's method is used. At the same time, the data for these two calculations may differ by an average of 10%.

EF should be in the range of 50-60%, the Simpson norm suggests that the lower limit should not be less than 45%, and according to Teicholz 55%.

The Teicholtz formula uses systolic and diastolic volumes and the size of the left ventricle. The study involved a small part of the latter.

The overall length indicator does not matter.

Typically, the study is carried out on old equipment and in the presence of areas with impaired local contractility (for example, in the case of ischemia), the Teicholz formula may fail and a fuzzy result.

To get the EF, the amount of shortening is multiplied by a factor of 1.7. DU is obtained from the formula ((KDD - KSD) / KDD) * 100%. Where EDD is the end diastolic diameter, ESD is the end systolic diameter.

Simpson's formula is more modern, it accurately shows all significant areas of the myocardium, taking into account the geometry of the ventricle and the presence of areas with impaired local contractility through the apical 4- and 2-chamber section.

The Simpson method involves dividing the cavity of the left ventricle into thin discs and determining their boundaries. Outlined systole and diastole are visible along the contour of the cardinal surface of the ventricle; these data can be used to estimate the volume of ejection.

Norms for adults

The indicators do not depend on the patient's gender, therefore, the norms for women and men are identical. However, they may vary by age. The older the person, the lower his rate.

An EF of less than 45% is considered reduced. With indicators in the region of 40%, heart failure can be suspected.

If in adults the level is less than 35%, then this indicates that violations are occurring and the person is in danger. With hypertension, the indicator may increase, while in some people it may be extremely low, which is due to a physiological predisposition, but not less than 45%.

The norm in children

At a younger age, the figure may be higher. So, the norm in children from birth to 14 years is in the range of 60-80%. Nevertheless, it is impossible to consider only one EF, when making a diagnosis, all indicators of the work of the heart are taken into account.

The table of norms involves comparing height, weight, fraction and heart rate.

What studies are used to determine the indicator

If the doctor has a suspicion of a violation of the heart, he directs the patient to do a cardiogram and a biochemical blood test. Holter monitoring, electrocardiogram, bicycle ergometry and ultrasound examination of the organ can also be performed.

Doctors study all indicators at once and judge the presence of pathology by their total value. The main ones are the following:

Cardiac output should be between 55 and 60%.
The size of the right chamber atrium is 2.7-4.6 cm.
The diameter of the aorta is 2.1-4.2 cm.
The size of the left-sided atrium is 1.8-4 cm.
The rate of stroke volume is 60-100 cm.

What does low mean

When the indicator is in the range of 55-75%, this is the norm. A reduced value is from 45 to 55%. When it is up to 45, it means that the patient has heart failure. If it is below 35%, then irreversible disturbances in the work of the organ occur and the person needs urgent treatment.

Reasons for downgrading

The indicator can be reduced with the following pathologies:

Myocardial infarction. When scars appear on the muscles and they cannot contract properly. Moreover, after a heart attack, it is not possible to increase the fraction by medication.
Ischemic disease. This reduces blood flow.
Failure of the rhythm of contractions. It leads to impaired conduction, wear and tear of the heart.
Cardiomyopathy. Causes an increase in muscle size.

Identification of pathology in the early stages and its elimination through drug therapy can save the situation. If nothing has been done, then gradually the EF decreases even more.

This is due to the fact that the heart muscle begins to change, its layer grows, the structure of small blood vessels deteriorates, fibers weaken and blood absorption decreases.

In addition, the causes of pathology can be hidden in:

Angina.
Hypertension.
Pericarditis, endocarditis, myocarditis.
Aneurysm of the walls of the ventricle.
Congenital malformations of an organ or blood vessels.
Vasculitis.

There are predisposing factors that can also disrupt the functioning of the organ. These include obesity, tumors, severe intoxication, hormonal failure and diabetes.

Symptoms of a low rate

The main symptom, when the fraction is reduced, is the appearance of shortness of breath, and regardless of the load. It can appear even due to minor loads when doing homework. Sometimes shortness of breath can be at night or when lying down.

Among other signs, patients note:

Increased weakness, fatigue and dizziness, up to loss of consciousness. This is due to a lack of blood supply and, as a result, oxygen starvation.
The appearance of edema. This is due to stagnant fluid.
Severe pain in the right side of the abdomen. This is noted due to congestion in the vessels of the liver, which can provoke further cirrhosis.
Violation of vision.
Pain in the area of the heart with an increase in the rhythm of contractions.
Decreased sensation in the limbs.
Impaired coordination.
Nausea, vomiting.

How to increase the indicator value

First, the patient is diagnosed in order to identify the pathology that caused the decrease. Further, the administration of drugs corresponding to the diagnosis is prescribed. With ischemia, the use of nitroglycerin is indicated, with hypertension, antihypertensive drugs and surgical correction of defects are prescribed.

In addition to treating the underlying disease, the contractile function is stabilized. These include Digoxin, Korglikon, Strofantin.

So that the cardiovascular system is not overloaded with fluid, it is recommended to follow a diet, reduce salt and the amount of daily fluid.

Along with this, diuretics are shown that contribute to the removal of excess fluid: Veroshpiron, Diakarb, Diuver, Indapamide, Torasemide.

ATP inhibitors help strengthen blood vessels and thus protect the heart. When they are taken, tissue nutrition improves, the performance of the heart muscle and the resistance of the myocardium to stress increase. This group includes: Enalapril, Perindopril, Captopril.

They help reduce the organ's need for oxygen and nutrients, increase the volume of myocardial contraction sites, reduce cell death and heart rate. Their list includes: Nebivolol, Metoprolol, Bisoprolol.

Aldosterone receptor antagonists stabilize the electrolyte level of the blood, remove excess fluid, and reduce the load on the myocardium.

Representatives of the group are Spironolactone, Eplerenone. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists have a similar effect, but they are somewhat stronger. Assign Valsartan, Kandesartan, Olmesartan.

When ejection fraction is low, statins may be used as adjunctive therapy to lower cholesterol and protect blood vessels. Apply Pravastatin, Fluvastatin, Simvastatin.

Effective and anticoagulants that thin the blood and prevent atherosclerotic changes. This is Warfarin, Xarelto.

Other treatments

In addition to taking appropriate drugs, all patients need to reconsider their lifestyle in order to increase the fraction.

Organize proper nutrition.
Rest enough time.
Undergo physiotherapy and reflexology.
Control physical activity.
Be outdoors often.
To refuse from bad habits.

Surgery

In the case when drug therapy is ineffective, surgical treatment may be prescribed.

Its common methods are:

Installation of a cardioverter-defibrillator, a pacemaker in case of heart rhythm disturbance.
Creating an artificial blockade to slow down the contraction of the ventricles in order to stimulate different rhythms of atrial and ventricular contractions.

home remedies

It is almost impossible to raise a faction by folk means.

Basically, this therapy is aimed at eliminating the symptoms and maintaining the health of the organs. So, to prevent swelling, take decoctions of calendula, milk thistle, horsetail, yarrow, knotweed, nettle, chicory, birch buds, juniper berries, rose hips, lingonberries. They need to be drunk in the intervals when medicines of a similar effect are canceled.

A decoction of mistletoe, hawthorn and cudweed, taken in equal amounts, is considered effective. Two tablespoons of the mixture are poured with a liter of boiling water and put on a small fire. After a couple of minutes, the brew is set aside and insisted for about half an hour. Strain, take 125 ml three times a day.
Dried hawthorn fruits in the amount of 6 tablespoons are rubbed and motherwort herb is added in the same amount. Bay mixture of 1.5 liters of boiling water, insist day, well wrapped. Then strain and place in the refrigerator. It is necessary to drink three times a day half an hour before meals, one glass each.
In the treatment of cardiac pathologies, hawthorn is often used. It helps to normalize the heart rhythm, reduce hypertension, chest pain, fights atherosclerosis and heart failure. Hawthorn flowers and berries help the heart by increasing its ability to pump blood. This herb helps reduce shortness of breath and fatigue. Hawthorn can be used both as a tincture and as a decoction.

Willow bark, meadow clover, sweet clover, meadowsweet, hawthorn, and rakita are used to thin the blood.

Relief fees include:

Composition of hawthorn, cudweed, chamomile, cumin and motherwort.
A decoction of St. John's wort, mistletoe, sage, yarrow, cudweed, calendula, horsetail and pine buds.

For these purposes, you can purchase ready-made tinctures of peony, valerian, motherwort or hawthorn at the pharmacy. In the absence of herbs, 50 g of honey can be diluted in 500 ml of water and drunk in 4 doses during the day.

When a high fraction value is diagnosed

An increase in the indicator is rare, since it is physiologically impossible. The heart cannot expel more blood than it should. Therefore, the level of 80% can occur in a child at an early age, athletes and patients leading an active lifestyle.

Sometimes an increase indicates myocardial hypertrophy, when the left ventricle seeks to compensate for the onset of CHF and pushes blood out with considerable force.

If the indicators do not correspond to the norm, it is imperative to consult a cardiologist and undergo an echocardioscopy to prevent the development of pathologies.

Effects

If you do not pay attention to the problem, then severe chronic heart failure develops. Moreover, the body experiences a lack of oxygen, since the blood is pushed out in insufficient quantities and does not carry all the necessary nutrients.

Oxygen starvation can lead to serious pathologies of both the heart and the brain.

Health prognosis

The prognosis depends on how low the patient is diagnosed. When the value is lowered to 40-45%, the risk of cardiac arrest is small, about 10-15%. When the EF decreases to 34-39%, then the possibility of death is in the range of 20-25%.

If this indicator becomes even lower, then the threat to life for the patient increases as the EF decreases.

It is not possible to completely get rid of the pathology, therefore, patients with this diagnosis must constantly undergo corrective therapy, which will allow them to maintain their vital functions for many years.

The ejection fraction provides information about the performance of the left ventricle. In men and women, the norm is the same (55-70%), but in children the figure can reach 70-80%, which is not considered a pathology.

The most common is the low fraction. To raise the rate, it is necessary to find the cause of the pathology and organize adequate treatment. If this is not done, the patient is threatened with the development of heart failure, death.

Cardiology is a very serious branch of medicine. It is difficult for an ordinary person to understand its terms. But, given the prevalence of cardiac pathologies, it still does not hurt to know something about the methods for diagnosing cardiovascular insufficiency. Let's understand the concept of "ejection fraction of the heart." What is its norm and why is it violated?

cardiaccases: ejection fraction

The value, which is called the ejection fraction of the heart (EF), allows you to give an objective assessment of the work of this organ, or rather, answer the question of how well the left ventricle performs its duties. It reflects how much blood it pushes out at the moment of contraction.

Why is it so important to establish the performance of the heart muscles of the left rather than the right ventricle? Because it supplies blood to the systemic circulation. If its “deficiency” occurs here, this is a direct path to heart failure. Thus, in order to find out whether this terrible disease threatens a person, it is advisable to determine what work the heart does with each push. In short, the ejection fraction is the percentage of blood volume that the heart muscle ejects into the vessels with each contraction.

To whomshould i check this indicator?

A referral for such a diagnosis is not issued to all patients who applied to a medical institution. It will be received only by those patients who are concerned about such symptoms:

chest pain;
regular interruptions in the activities of this "shock" body;
frequent pulse;
dyspnea;
dizziness;
short-term loss of consciousness;
swelling of the lower limbs;
fatigue;
decline in performance.

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Thus, checking how much blood the ventricle pushes out is necessary for those who have symptoms that indicate problems in the work of the heart.

WhichWill the test help measure EF?

This indicator is determined during ultrasound of the heart, echocardiography and contrast x-ray. This is an inexpensive and accessible examination, which is highly informative, is not associated with painful sensations and does not require special preparation from the patient.

To make it clear how the ejection fraction is determined, let's look at an example. If there was 100 ml of blood in the ventricle, and it sent 55 ml to the vascular system, then the EF is 55%.

Howblood should be pushed out by the heart?

The human "motor" with each contraction throws into the bloodstream more than 50% of the blood contained in the left ventricle. If this value does not reach 50%, then a diagnosis of "insufficiency" is made. This is very dangerous for the body: with a decrease in volume, ischemia, defect, and myocardium develop.

What should be the ejection fraction of the heart in a healthy person? The norm is in the range from 55 to 70% - so much blood in one contraction should put the heart into the aorta. Only in this way will the internal organs be able to receive a sufficient amount of oxygen.

Already at 40-55% there is reason to say that the EF is below the physiological norm. And if this indicator fell to 35-40%, this is a serious warning that a person has big heart problems. You should urgently consult a cardiologist to prevent heart failure.

Whyreduced emissions?

The key reason why cardiac output begins to lag behind the norm is a disorder in the pumping function of the heart. Very “bad” diseases can lead to such a state: cardiomyopathy, heart disease, ischemia, heart attack. Cardiac (primary) factors that cause a decrease in EF include:

violation of the functioning of the heart valves;
failure of the heart rhythm (which provokes wear and tear of the muscle due to non-rhythmic contractions);
myocardial damage (this is the most common cause);
violation of metabolic processes in the heart muscle;
blockage of the coronary arteries.

Practice shows that the release can fall to such an extent that the tissues will no longer receive the necessary nutrients. This results in cardiogenic shock.

There are additional factors that also negatively affect cardiac output. These include an increase in the lumen of small arteries and blockage of large veins, a decrease in the amount of circulating blood, arterial hypertension, and hormonal imbalance.

Howtreat low cardiac output?

Of course, no doctor will start to increase the ejection fraction only on the basis of low ultrasound values. Before deciding how to increase the ejection fraction of the heart, he will try to determine the cause of the low EF. Treatment of low output is aimed at eliminating the source of such a condition and relieving pain, improving the minute volume and nutrition of the heart muscle, and restoring cardiac tone. Additionally, oxygen therapy is used.

To bring EF closer to normal, Dopamine, Dobutamine, Digoxin, Korglikon, Strofantin are used. These medicines help to increase the contractility of our main muscle. Cardiac glycosides can only be prescribed by a doctor, self-medication is extremely dangerous!

If coronary disease contributed to the decrease in EF, then nitroglycerin preparations are prescribed. At defect surgical treatment is shown. If the heart has become worse to perform its duties due to increased pressure, then the patient will be prescribed antihypertensive drugs. To protect the heart and blood vessels, Enalapril, Enam, Perindopril, Prestarium, Kapoten, Lisinopril, Lozap, Lorista, Valz are used.

But it is not always possible to increase the EF exclusively by medication. To cure the disease that caused such a deviation, the help of cardiac surgeons may be needed. To do this, they carry out prosthetic valves, install stents, do coronary artery bypass surgery or install a pacemaker.

When the patient receives the test results, he tries to figure out on his own what each value received means, how critical the deviation from the norm is. An important diagnostic value is the indicator of cardiac output, the norm of which indicates a sufficient amount of blood ejected into the aorta, and the deviation indicates approaching heart failure.

Estimation of the ejection fraction of the heart

When a patient contacts the clinic with complaints of pain in, the doctor will prescribe a complete diagnosis. A patient who encounters this problem for the first time may not understand what all the terms mean when certain parameters increase or decrease, how they are calculated.

The ejection fraction of the heart is determined with the following patient complaints:

heartache;
tachycardia;
dyspnea;
dizziness and fainting;
increased fatigue;
pain in the chest area;
interruptions in the work of the heart;
limb edema.

Indicative for the doctor will be a biochemical blood test and an electrocardiogram. If the data obtained is not enough, ultrasound, Holter monitoring of the electrocardiogram, and bicycle ergometry are performed.

The ejection fraction index is determined in the following studies of the heart:

isotope ventriculography;
radiopaque ventriculography.

The ejection fraction is not a difficult indicator to analyze; even the simplest ultrasound machine shows the data. As a result, the doctor receives data showing how efficient the heart is at each beat. During each contraction, a certain percentage of blood is ejected from the ventricle into the vessels. This volume is referred to as the ejection fraction. If out of 100 ml of blood in the ventricle, 60 cm 3 were received, then the cardiac output was 60%.

The work of the left ventricle is considered indicative, since blood enters the systemic circulation from the left side of the heart muscle. If failures in the work of the left ventricle are not detected in time, then there is a risk of getting heart failure. A low cardiac output indicates the impossibility of the heart to contract at full strength, therefore, the body is not provided with the necessary volume of blood. In this case, the heart is supported medically.

How is the ejection fraction calculated?

To calculate, the following formula is used: stroke volume times heart rate. The result will show how much blood is pushed out by the heart in 1 minute. The average volume is 5.5 liters.
Formulas for calculating cardiac output have names.

Teicholz formula. The calculation is performed automatically by the program, into which data on the final systolic and diastolic volume of the left ventricle are entered. The size of the organ also matters.
Simpson formula. The main difference lies in the possibility of getting into the cut of the circle of all sections. The study is more revealing, it requires modern equipment.

The data obtained by two different formulas may differ by 10%. The data are indicative for the diagnosis of any disease of the cardiovascular system.

Important nuances in measuring the percentage of cardiac output:

the result is not affected by the gender of the person;
the older the person, the lower the rate;
a pathological condition is considered an indicator below 45%;
a decrease in the indicator of less than 35% leads to irreversible consequences;
a reduced rate may be an individual feature (but not lower than 45%);
the indicator increases with hypertension;
in the first few years of life, in children, the ejection rate exceeds the norm (60-80%).

Normal EF

Normally, more blood passes through, regardless of whether the heart is currently loaded or at rest. Determining the percentage of cardiac output allows timely diagnosis of heart failure.

Normal values of the ejection fraction of the heart

The rate of cardiac output is 55-70%, 40-55% is read as a reduced rate. If the indicator drops below 40%, heart failure is diagnosed, an indicator below 35% indicates possible irreversible life-threatening heart failures in the near future.

Exceeding the norm is rare, since physically the heart is not able to expel more blood into the aorta than it should be. The indicator reaches 80% in trained people, in particular, athletes, people leading a healthy, active lifestyle.

An increase in cardiac output may indicate myocardial hypertrophy. At this point, the left ventricle tries to compensate for the initial stage of heart failure and pushes the blood out with more force.

Even if the body is not affected by external irritating factors, it is guaranteed that 50% of the blood will be pushed out with each contraction. If a person is worried about his health, then after the age of 40, it is recommended to undergo an annual medical examination by a cardiologist.

The correctness of the prescribed therapy also depends on the definition of the individual threshold. An insufficient amount of processed blood causes a deficiency in the supply of oxygen in all organs, including.

Causes of a reduced ejection fraction of the heart

The following pathologies lead to a decrease in the level of cardiac output:

cardiac ischemia;
myocardial infarction;
heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmia, tachycardia);
cardiomyopathy.

Each pathology of the heart muscle in its own way affects the work of the ventricle. During coronary heart disease, blood flow decreases, after a heart attack, the muscles become covered with scars that cannot contract. Violation of the rhythm leads to a deterioration in conductivity, rapid wear of the heart, and leads to an increase in muscle size.

In the early stages of any disease, ejection fraction does not change much. The heart muscle adapts to new conditions, the muscle layer grows, small blood vessels are rebuilt. Gradually, the possibilities of the heart are exhausted, muscle fibers are weakened, the volume of absorbed blood decreases.

Other diseases that reduce cardiac output:

angina;
hypertension;
aneurysm of the wall of the ventricle;
infectious and inflammatory diseases (pericarditis, myocarditis,);
myocardial dystrophy;
cardiomyopathy;
congenital pathologies, violation of the structure of the body;
vasculitis;
vascular pathology;
hormonal disruptions in the body;
diabetes;
obesity;
tumors of the glands;
intoxication.

Symptoms of reduced ejection fraction

A low ejection fraction indicates serious cardiac pathologies. Having received the diagnosis, the patient needs to reconsider the way of life, to exclude excessive stress on the heart. Deterioration of the condition can cause emotional disorders.

The patient complains of the following symptoms:

increased fatigue, weakness;
the occurrence of a feeling of suffocation;
respiratory disorders;
hard to breathe in the supine position;
visual disturbances;
loss of consciousness;
heartache;
increased heart rate;
swelling of the lower extremities.

In more advanced stages and with the development of secondary diseases, the following symptoms occur:

decreased sensitivity of the limbs;
liver enlargement;
lack of coordination;
weight loss
nausea, vomiting, blood in;
abdominal pain;
accumulation of fluid in the lungs and abdomen.

Even if there are no symptoms, this does not mean that a person does not suffer from heart failure. Conversely, the pronounced symptoms listed above will not always result in a reduced percentage of cardiac output.

Ultrasound - norms and interpretation

Ultrasound examination of the heart

Ultrasound examination provides several indicators by which the doctor judges the state of the heart muscle, in particular, the functioning of the left ventricle.

Cardiac output, the norm is 55-60%;
The size of the atrium of the right chamber, the norm is 2.7-4.5 cm;
Aortic diameter, normal 2.1-4.1 cm;
The size of the atrium of the left chamber, the norm is 1.9-4 cm;
Stroke volume, normal 60-100 cm.

It is important to evaluate not each indicator separately, but the overall clinical picture. If there was a deviation from the norm up or down in only one indicator, additional research will be required to determine the cause.

When is treatment for reduced ejection fraction required?

Immediately after receiving the ultrasound results and determining the reduced percentage of cardiac output, the doctor will not be able to determine the treatment plan and prescribe medications. It is necessary to deal with the cause of the pathology, and not with the symptoms of a reduced ejection fraction.

Therapy is selected after a complete diagnosis, definition of the disease and its stage. In some cases, this is drug therapy, sometimes surgery.

How to increase the reduced ejection fraction?

First of all, medications are prescribed to eliminate the root cause of the reduced ejection fraction. A mandatory point of treatment is taking drugs that increase myocardial contractility (cardiac glycosides). The doctor selects the dosage and duration of treatment based on the results of the tests, uncontrolled intake can lead to glycosidic.

Heart failure is not only treated with pills. The patient must control the drinking regime, the daily volume of fluid drunk should not exceed 2 liters. Salt must be removed from the diet. Additionally, diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, Digoxin are prescribed. Medicines that reduce the heart's need for oxygen will help alleviate the condition.

Modern surgical methods restore blood flow in coronary disease and eliminate severe heart defects. From arrhythmia, an artificial heart driver can be installed. The operation is not performed when the percentage of cardiac output falls below 20%.

Prevention

Preventive measures are aimed at improving the state of the cardiovascular system.

Active lifestyle.
Lessons .
Proper nutrition.
Rejection of bad habits.
Outdoor recreation.
Getting rid of stress.

What is the ejection fraction of the heart:

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What is the ejection fraction of the heart?

FVS is called an indicator that is calculated using a special formula. The stroke volume of blood that enters the aorta after one contraction of the heart muscle is taken and its ratio is determined in accordance with the end-diastolic volume of the ventricle - the blood accumulated in the cavity during the relaxation period.

The resulting value is multiplied by one hundred percent, which makes it possible to obtain the final result. It is the percentage of blood that is pushed into the ventricle during systole according to the total volume of fluid it contains.

The calculation of the indicator is carried out by computer technology during ultrasonographic examination of the heart chambers. With this diagnostic method, only the left ventricle is examined.

Ultrasonography makes it possible to determine the ability of the left ventricle to perform its functions, which are to ensure adequate blood flow in the body.

Video about what is the ejection fraction of the heart.

Values: norm, deviations

If a person is at physiological rest, then the normal value of EF is a percentage. Significant physical activity in adults leads to an increase in the additional percentage. No further growth is observed. This is due to the fact that the myocardium cannot eject all the blood from the ventricle, as this causes cardiac arrest.

Values: norm, deviations

In modern medicine, only a reduced indicator is evaluated. This is the main criterion that allows you to determine the irrational work of the body. With a decrease in the indicator, most patients are diagnosed with contractile myocardial insufficiency. In this case, the value of the fraction is less than 45 percent.

With contractile insufficiency, there are risks not only for health, but also for human life. With insufficient blood flow to the organs, a violation of their work is observed. Against this background, multiple organ dysfunction develops, which leads to death.

Reduced ejection volume is most often observed against the background of systolic insufficiency. It is completely impossible to get rid of this pathological condition. If certain conditions arise, then the treatment is carried out by an endovascular or vascular surgeon. Gender has no effect on EF. In elderly patients, there is a physiological decrease in performance.

With a decrease in EF, we can talk about an individual norm. But, with a value of less than 45 percent, a pathological process is diagnosed. In a healthy person, the EF value may increase if the heart rate and blood pressure increase. If radionuclide angiography is used to measure the indicator, then the norm is a percentage.

If a patient is diagnosed with an indicator of less than 35 percent, then this indicates the occurrence of irreversible processes in the myocardium. In the first few years of a child's life, the EF norms are higher and make up a percentage.

The ejection fraction of the heart is a necessary indicator by which the prognosis of various cardiovascular diseases is determined.

Causes of heart failure

A decrease in EF is diagnosed against the background of various diseases. In most cases, pathology is diagnosed if chronic heart failure develops. This disease appears when:

Ischemic disease. With this disease, blood flow to the coronary arteries, which provide oxygen to the heart muscle, is reduced.
Myocardial infarctions. In most cases, the pathology develops after transmural and macrofocal infarcts. After this critical condition, the muscle cells of the organ are replaced by scar tissue. It cannot contract, which leads to the formation of postinfarction cardiosclerosis.
Conduction and rhythm disorders, which are often observed and are characterized by an acute course. Against this background, the muscle gradually wears out. Her contractions are irrational and non-rhythmic. In most cases, pathology is diagnosed when a variety of pathological processes occur, which lead to disruption of the organ.
Cardiomyopathy. With this disease, the appearance of structural disorders is observed in the configuration of the heart. They occur when the muscle of the organ is stretched or hypertrophied. The cause of this pathology can be a violation of the hormonal background, prolonged arterial hypertension, in which there are high blood pressure, organ defects, etc.

A decrease in cardiac EF can be diagnosed against the background of various cardiac diseases. That is why they are recommended to be treated in a timely manner.

Diagnostics

Values: norm, deviations

The pathological process is characterized by the presence of relevant signs. Thanks to the symptoms of the disease, doctors are able to correctly and timely diagnose.

Patients complain of pain in the right side of the abdomen. It can also increase in size, due to fluid retention in the abdominal cavity.

This condition is observed with venous stasis. If it is observed for a long period, then the patient may develop cardiac cirrhosis of the liver.

Patients may experience shortness of breath not only during physical overload, but also during the rest period. Patients report that shortness of breath appears in the supine position, especially at night. In pathology, the development of swelling of the skin on the face, feet and legs is diagnosed.

Untimely treatment of pathology leads to swelling of the internal organs, which is explained by a violation of blood circulation in the vessels of the subcutaneous fat, which leads to fluid stagnation in it.

A decrease in the ejection fraction of the heart is the cause of frequent weakness and excessive fatigue, even when doing the usual things. In some patients with pathology, the frequent occurrence of dizziness was diagnosed. In some cases, loss of consciousness was diagnosed. This is due to insufficient blood supply to the brain and skeletal muscles.

The disease can be accompanied by a disorder of the stool, as well as nausea and vomiting. Some people complain about the appearance of blood in the stool. Periodically, there may be impaired sensitivity in the limbs. With a long course of pathology, a rapid decrease in body weight is observed. Patients talk about the appearance of pain in the region of the heart, which is characterized by varying degrees of intensity.

The indicator is determined using an electrocardiogram. Patients are also given an ultrasound scan. Thanks to these examinations, the degree of cardiac output is determined. Diagnostics does not require specific training and is highly informative.

Diagnosis of cardiac EF provides an opportunity to determine the severity of the pathology and develop the correct tactics of therapy.

Treatment

Ejection fraction of the heart: treatment

Pathology therapy is carried out if the EF is less than 45 percent. This condition indicates that the functionality of the heart muscle is reduced against the background of various diseases.

Therapy is aimed at stabilizing pathological changes in the early stages. In most cases, drug therapy is carried out using:

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. With the help of this medicine, the nutrition of the heart tissues improves, and the peripheral arteries also expand. With regular use of drugs, the performance of the heart muscles significantly increases, and the resistance of the myocardium to stress increases. Patients are recommended to take Ramipril, Enalapril, Captopril
Beta blockers. Thanks to these drugs, the body's need for oxygen and other nutrients is reduced. When using the drug, the heart rate decreases, the processes of natural cell death decrease. It is recommended to take Metoporolol, Nebivol, Bisoprolol
Aldosterone receptor antagonists. The action of drugs is aimed at stabilizing the amount of electrolytes. During the period of treatment, excess fluid is removed and the load on the organ is reduced. Patients are prescribed Eplerenone, Spironolactone
Diuretics or diuretics. The drugs remove excess fluid from the body and reduce the volumetric load on the body. Recommended use of Indapamide, Torasemide, Hypothiazid
cardiac glycosides. The drug improves the contractility of the heart muscles, increase conductivity in violation of myocardial functions. Treatment of patients is carried out using Strofantin, Digoxin
Peripheral vasodilators. Medicines are prescribed in order to reduce the load on the organ and improve blood flow in the region of the heart vessels. Patients are advised to take Nitroglycerin, Apressin, Sodium nitroprusside
Calcium channel blockers. Thanks to medicines, the vessels of the heart expand, and the quality of tissue nutrition also increases. Therapy is carried out with Nifedipine, Nimodipine, Verapamil
Disaggregants. Preparations are recommended to be used in order to eliminate the possibility of the formation of clots. For the treatment of pathology, it is recommended to take Aspirin, Plavix
Antirhythmic agents. Medications stop violations in the rhythm of myocardial contractions. Therapy is carried out with Diltiazem, Disopyramide, Amiodarone

In particularly severe cases, surgical intervention is recommended. Patients are placed on pacemakers or pacemakers if there are life-threatening abnormalities in the heart rhythm. In some cases, resynchronization therapy is used. With its help, contractions of the ventricles and atria are stimulated in various rhythms.

During the treatment of pathology, it is necessary to adhere to certain recommendations. The patient needs to provide normal nutrition that will fully satisfy the needs of his body. Also, the patient must strictly observe the regimen of the day and rest.

Treatment of reduced EF of the heart can be the use of a variety of techniques. The choice of a specific therapeutic method is carried out only by a qualified specialist in accordance with the individual characteristics of the patient and the severity of the pathology.

Prevention

If the patient does not have a genetic predisposition, then he can fully regulate the norm of the fraction. In this case, he is recommended to follow certain rules of prevention. A person must exercise every day. It is also recommended to consume foods that contain a large amount of iron.

In order to prevent pathology, it is necessary to stop smoking. A person should minimize the use of alcoholic beverages. An excellent preventive method is to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

If possible, then a person should go to aerobics several times a week. Dietary nutrition will eliminate the threat of the development of pathology. It is best to give preference to dishes that contain a minimum amount of salt. With a hereditary predisposition to the disease, it is recommended to refuse to visit gyms.

EF of the heart is a severe pathological process that can cause death. The pathological process can develop in a variety of cardiac diseases. It is accompanied by certain symptoms, the appearance of which requires a diagnosis, which will allow you to prescribe the optimal treatment regimen. In order to avoid pathology, its prevention should be carried out in a timely manner.

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The normal value of the ejection fraction of the heart, deviations of the indicator

From this article, you will learn about the ejection fraction of the heart: the rate of the indicator, how it is calculated and what it shows. When the deviation of the ejection fraction (abbreviated as EF) is dangerous, why does a pathological change appear. Symptoms of the indicator going beyond the normal limits, principles of treatment and prognosis.

Ejection fraction (EF) is the ratio of stroke volume (blood that enters the aorta in one contraction of the heart muscle) to the end-diastolic volume of the ventricle (blood that accumulates in the cavity during the period of relaxation, or diastole, of the myocardium). The resulting value is multiplied by 100% and the final value is obtained. That is, this is the percentage of blood that pushes the ventricle during systole, of the total volume of fluid contained in it.

The indicator is calculated by the computer during the ultrasonographic examination of the heart chambers (echocardiography or ultrasound). It is used only for the left ventricle and directly reflects its ability to perform its function, that is, to provide adequate blood flow throughout the body.

Under conditions of physiological rest, the normal value of EF is considered to be 50–75%; during physical exertion in healthy people, it increases to 80–85%. There is no further increase, since the myocardium cannot eject all the blood from the ventricular cavity, which will lead to cardiac arrest.

In medical terms, only a decrease in the indicator is evaluated - this is one of the main criteria for the development of a decrease in the working capacity of the heart, a sign of contractile myocardial insufficiency. This is evidenced by the value of EF below 45%.

Such insufficiency poses a great danger to life - a small flow of blood to the organs disrupts their work, which ends in multiple organ dysfunction and ultimately leads to the death of the patient.

Given that the cause of the decrease in the volume of left ventricular ejection is its systolic insufficiency (as the outcome of many chronic pathologies of the heart and blood vessels), it is impossible to completely cure this condition. Treatment is carried out that supports the myocardium and is aimed at stabilizing the condition at the same level.

Cardiologists and internists are involved in the monitoring and selection of therapy for patients with low ejection fraction. Under certain conditions, the assistance of a vascular or endovascular surgeon may be required.

Features of the indicator

The ejection fraction does not depend on the gender of the person.
With age, a physiological decrease in the index is noted.
A low EF may be an individual norm, but a value of less than 45% is always considered pathological.
All healthy people have an increase in the value with an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
The norm of the indicator when measuring by radionuclide angiography is 45–65%.
Simpson or Teicholtz formulas are used for measurement, normal values, depending on the method used, fluctuate up to 10%.
The critical level of reduction of 35% or less is a sign of irreversible changes in myocardial tissues.
For children in the first years of life, higher norms of 60–80% are characteristic.
The indicator is used to determine the prognosis of any cardiovascular disease in patients.

Reasons for the decline

At the initial stages of any disease, the ejection fraction remains normal due to the development of adaptation processes in the myocardium (thickening of the muscle layer, increased work, restructuring of small blood vessels). As the disease progresses, the possibilities of the heart exhaust themselves, there is a violation of the contractility of muscle fibers, and the volume of ejected blood decreases.

All influences and diseases that have a negative effect on the myocardium lead to such violations.

Acute myocardial infarction

Cicatricial changes in the heart tissue (cardiosclerosis)

Painless form of ischemia

Tachy and bradyarrhythmias

Aneurysm of the ventricular wall

Endocarditis (changes on the inner lining)

Pericarditis (disease of the heart bag)

Congenital disorders of the normal structure or defects (violation of the correct location, a significant decrease in the lumen of the aorta, pathological connection between large vessels)

Aneurysm of any part of the aorta

Aortoarteritis (damage by cells of one's own immunity to the walls of the aorta and its branches)

Thromboembolism of the lungs

Diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose uptake

Hormonally active tumors of the adrenal glands, pancreas (pheochromocytoma, carcinoid)

Stimulant drugs

Symptoms of a decrease in the indicator

Low ejection fraction is one of the main criteria for cardiac dysfunction, so patients are forced to significantly limit their labor and physical activity. Often, even simple chores around the house cause a deterioration in the condition, which forces most of the time to sit or lie in bed.

Manifestations of a decrease in the indicator are distributed according to the frequency of occurrence from the most frequent to the rarest:

significant loss of strength and fatigue from the usual loads;
respiratory failure by the type of increase in frequency, up to attacks of suffocation;
breathing problems worse when lying down;
collaptoid states and loss of consciousness;
vision changes (darkening in the eyes, "flies");
pain syndrome in the projection of the heart of varying intensity;
increase in the number of heart contractions;
swelling of the legs and feet;
accumulation of fluid in the chest and abdomen;
a gradual increase in the size of the liver;
progressive weight loss;
episodes of impaired coordination and gait;
periodic decrease in sensitivity and active mobility in the limbs;
discomfort, moderate pain in the projection of the abdomen;
unstable chair;
bouts of nausea;
vomiting with an admixture of blood;
blood in stool.

Treatment with a decrease in the rate

An ejection fraction of less than 45% is a consequence of a change in the functionality of the heart muscle against the background of the progression of the underlying disease-cause. A decrease in the indicator is a sign of irreversible changes in the tissues of the myocardium, and there is no longer any talk of the possibility of a complete cure. All therapeutic measures are aimed at stabilizing pathological changes at their early stage and improving the patient's quality of life at a later stage.

The complex of treatment includes:

correction of the main pathological process;
therapy for left ventricular failure.

This article is devoted directly to left ventricular EF and the types of its violation, therefore, further we will only talk about this part of the treatment.

Drug correction

Basic drugs

Improving the nutrition of the heart tissue

Increasing myocardial resistance to stress

A significant increase in the performance of the heart muscle

Decreased heart rate

Reducing the processes of natural death of heart cells in conditions of increased work

Increase in the number of zones with active contraction in the myocardium

Removing excess fluid and reducing the load on the myocardium

Reducing the volume load on the myocardium

Increased conduction in conditions of impaired myocardial function

Additional funds

Vascular protection in conditions of altered blood flow

Prevention of clot formation against the background of venous stasis

Auxiliary drugs

Improving blood flow in the heart vessels

Surgical correction

Installation of pacemakers or cardiovector-defibrillators for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
Resynchronization therapy - stimulation of the contraction of the ventricles and atria in different rhythms (slowing down the contraction of the ventricles by creating an artificial heart block).

Non-drug correction

Normalization of nutrition in accordance with the needs of the body to stabilize normal weight.
Dosed, but mandatory physical activity.
Normalization of work-rest.
Psychotherapeutic help.
Physio- and reflexology.

Forecast

If the left ventricular ejection fraction decreases, being in the range of 40-45%, the risk of death due to cardiac arrest is about 10-15%.
A decrease to 35-40% raises this risk to 20-25%.
A further decrease in the index exponentially worsens the prognosis for patient survival.

There is no complete cure for the pathology, but timely therapy can prolong life and maintain its relatively satisfactory quality.

Cardiac output: the norm and causes of deviation

What is ejection fraction and why should it be estimated?

Estimation of the ejection fraction of the heart

When a patient contacts the clinic with complaints of pain in the heart, the doctor will prescribe a complete diagnosis. A patient who encounters this problem for the first time may not understand what all the terms mean when certain parameters increase or decrease, how they are calculated.

The ejection fraction of the heart is determined with the following patient complaints:

heartache;
tachycardia;
dyspnea;
dizziness and fainting;
increased fatigue;
pain in the chest area;
interruptions in the work of the heart;
limb edema.

Indicative for the doctor will be a biochemical blood test and an electrocardiogram. If the data obtained is not enough, ultrasound, Holter monitoring of the electrocardiogram, and bicycle ergometry are performed.

The ejection fraction index is determined in the following studies of the heart:

isotope ventriculography;
radiopaque ventriculography.

How is the ejection fraction calculated?

To calculate, the following formula is used: stroke volume times heart rate. The result will show how much blood is pushed out by the heart in 1 minute. The average volume is 5.5 liters.

Formulas for calculating cardiac output have names.

Teicholz formula. The calculation is performed automatically by the program, into which data on the final systolic and diastolic volume of the left ventricle are entered. The size of the organ also matters.
Simpson formula. The main difference lies in the possibility of getting into the slice of the circumference of all sections of the myocardium. The study is more revealing, it requires modern equipment.

The data obtained by two different formulas may differ by 10%. The data are indicative for the diagnosis of any disease of the cardiovascular system.

Important nuances in measuring the percentage of cardiac output:

the result is not affected by the gender of the person;
the older the person, the lower the rate;
a pathological condition is considered an indicator below 45%;
a decrease in the indicator of less than 35% leads to irreversible consequences;
a reduced rate may be an individual feature (but not lower than 45%);
the indicator increases with hypertension;
in the first few years of life, in children, the ejection rate exceeds the norm (60-80%).

Normal EF

Normally, more blood passes through the left ventricle, regardless of whether the heart is currently loaded or at rest. Determining the percentage of cardiac output allows timely diagnosis of heart failure.

Normal values of the ejection fraction of the heart

The rate of cardiac output is 55-70%, 40-55% is read as a reduced rate. If the indicator drops below 40% - heart failure is diagnosed, an indicator below 35% indicates possible irreversible life-threatening heart failures in the near future.

The correctness of the prescribed therapy also depends on the definition of the individual threshold. An insufficient amount of processed blood causes a shortage of oxygen in all organs, including the brain.

Causes of a reduced ejection fraction of the heart

The following pathologies lead to a decrease in the level of cardiac output:

cardiac ischemia;
myocardial infarction;
heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmia, tachycardia);
cardiomyopathy.

Other diseases that reduce cardiac output:

angina;
hypertension;
aneurysm of the wall of the ventricle;
infectious and inflammatory diseases (pericarditis, myocarditis, endocarditis);
myocardial dystrophy;
cardiomyopathy;
congenital pathologies, violation of the structure of the body;
vasculitis;
vascular pathology;
hormonal disruptions in the body;
diabetes;
obesity;
tumors of the glands;
intoxication.

Symptoms of reduced ejection fraction

The patient complains of the following symptoms:

increased fatigue, weakness;
the occurrence of a feeling of suffocation;
respiratory disorders;
hard to breathe in the supine position;
visual disturbances;
loss of consciousness;
heartache;
increased heart rate;
swelling of the lower extremities.

In more advanced stages and with the development of secondary diseases, the following symptoms occur:

decreased sensitivity of the limbs;
liver enlargement;
lack of coordination;
weight loss
nausea, vomiting, blood in the stool;
abdominal pain;
accumulation of fluid in the lungs and abdomen.

Even if there are no symptoms, this does not mean that a person does not suffer from heart failure. Conversely, the pronounced symptoms listed above will not always result in a reduced percentage of cardiac output.

Ultrasound - norms and interpretation

Ultrasound examination of the heart

Ultrasound examination provides several indicators by which the doctor judges the state of the heart muscle, in particular, the functioning of the left ventricle.

Cardiac output, the norm is 55-60%;
The size of the atrium of the right chamber, the norm is 2.7-4.5 cm;
Aortic diameter, normal 2.1-4.1 cm;
The size of the atrium of the left chamber, the norm is 1.9-4 cm;
Stroke volume, standard cm.

When is treatment for reduced ejection fraction required?

Therapy is selected after a complete diagnosis, definition of the disease and its stage. In some cases, this is drug therapy, sometimes surgery.

How to increase the reduced ejection fraction?

Prevention

Preventive measures are aimed at improving the state of the cardiovascular system.

Active lifestyle.
Sports.
Proper nutrition.
Rejection of bad habits.
Outdoor recreation.
Getting rid of stress.

What is the ejection fraction of the heart:

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Symptoms of the indicator going beyond the normal limits, principles of treatment and prognosis.

Such insufficiency poses a great danger to life - a small flow of blood to the organs disrupts their work, which ends in multiple organ dysfunction and ultimately leads to the death of the patient.

Features of the indicator

The ejection fraction does not depend on the gender of the person.
With age, a physiological decrease in the index is noted.
A low EF may be an individual norm, but a value of less than 45% is always considered pathological.
All healthy people have an increase in the value with an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
The norm of the indicator when measuring by radionuclide angiography is 45–65%.
Simpson or Teicholtz formulas are used for measurement, normal values, depending on the method used, fluctuate up to 10%.
The critical level of reduction of 35% or less is a sign of irreversible changes in myocardial tissues.
For children in the first years of life, higher norms of 60–80% are characteristic.
The indicator is used to determine the prognosis of any cardiovascular disease in patients.

Reasons for the decline

All influences and diseases that have a negative effect on the myocardium lead to such violations.

Acute myocardial infarction

Cicatricial changes in the heart tissue (cardiosclerosis)

Painless form of ischemia

Tachy and bradyarrhythmias

Aneurysm of the ventricular wall

Endocarditis (changes on the inner lining)

Pericarditis (disease of the heart bag)

Congenital disorders of the normal structure or defects (violation of the correct location, a significant decrease in the lumen of the aorta, pathological connection between large vessels)

Aneurysm of any part of the aorta

Aortoarteritis (damage by cells of one's own immunity to the walls of the aorta and its branches)

Thromboembolism of the lungs

Diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose uptake

Hormonally active tumors of the adrenal glands, pancreas (pheochromocytoma, carcinoid)

Stimulant drugs

Symptoms of a decrease in the indicator

Manifestations of a decrease in the indicator are distributed according to the frequency of occurrence from the most frequent to the rarest:

significant loss of strength and fatigue from the usual loads;
respiratory failure by the type of increase in frequency, up to attacks of suffocation;
breathing problems worse when lying down;
collaptoid states and loss of consciousness;
vision changes (darkening in the eyes, "flies");
pain syndrome in the projection of the heart of varying intensity;
increase in the number of heart contractions;
swelling of the legs and feet;
accumulation of fluid in the chest and abdomen;
a gradual increase in the size of the liver;
progressive weight loss;
episodes of impaired coordination and gait;
periodic decrease in sensitivity and active mobility in the limbs;
discomfort, moderate pain in the projection of the abdomen;
unstable chair;
bouts of nausea;
vomiting with an admixture of blood;
blood in stool.

Treatment with a decrease in the rate

The complex of treatment includes:

correction of the main pathological process;
therapy for left ventricular failure.

This article is devoted directly to left ventricular EF and the types of its violation, therefore, further we will only talk about this part of the treatment.

Ejection fraction of the left ventricle of the heart: norms, causes of a decrease and high, how to increase

The ejection fraction of the heart (EF) is an indicator that reflects the volume of blood pushed out by the left ventricle (LV) at the time of its contraction (systole) into the aortic lumen. The EF is calculated based on the ratio of the volume of blood ejected into the aorta to the volume of blood in the left ventricle at the time of its relaxation (diastole). That is, when the ventricle is relaxed, it contains blood from the left atrium (end diastolic volume - EDV), and then, contracting, it pushes some of the blood into the aortic lumen. This part of the blood is the ejection fraction, expressed as a percentage.

The blood ejection fraction is a value that is technically easy to calculate, and which has a fairly high information content regarding myocardial contractility. The need to prescribe cardiac drugs largely depends on this value, and the prognosis for patients with cardiovascular insufficiency is also determined.

The closer to normal values the LV ejection fraction in a patient, the better his heart contracts and the more favorable the prognosis for life and health. If the ejection fraction is much lower than normal, then the heart cannot contract normally and provide blood to the entire body, and in this case, the heart muscle should be supported with medication.

This indicator can be calculated using the Teicholtz or Simpson formula. The calculation is carried out using a program that automatically calculates the result depending on the final systolic and diastolic volume of the left ventricle, as well as its size.

The calculation according to the Simpson method is considered more successful, since according to Teicholz, small areas of the myocardium with impaired local contractility may not fall into the cut of the study with a two-dimensional Echo-KG, while with the Simpson method, more significant areas of the myocardium fall into the slice of the circle.

Despite the fact that the Teicholz method is used on outdated equipment, modern ultrasound diagnostic rooms prefer to evaluate the ejection fraction using the Simpson method. The results obtained, by the way, may differ - depending on the method by values within 10%.

Normal EF

The normal value of the ejection fraction differs from person to person, and also depends on the equipment on which the study is carried out, and on the method by which the fraction is calculated.

The average values are approximately 50-60%, the lower limit of normal according to the Simpson formula is at least 45%, according to the Teicholtz formula - at least 55%. This percentage means that exactly this amount of blood in one heartbeat needs to be pushed into the aortic lumen by the heart in order to ensure adequate oxygen delivery to the internal organs.

35-40% speak of advanced heart failure, even lower values are fraught with transient consequences.

In children in the neonatal period, the EF is at least 60%, mainly 60-80%, gradually reaching the usual normal values as they grow.

Of the deviations from the norm, more often than an increased ejection fraction, there is a decrease in its value due to various diseases.

If the indicator is reduced, it means that the heart muscle cannot contract sufficiently, as a result of which the volume of expelled blood decreases, and the internal organs, and, first of all, the brain, receive less oxygen.

Sometimes in the conclusion of echocardioscopy, you can see that the value of EF is higher than the average values (60% or more). As a rule, in such cases, the indicator is no more than 80%, since the left ventricle, due to physiological characteristics, cannot expel a larger volume of blood into the aorta.

As a rule, high EF is observed in healthy individuals in the absence of other cardiological pathologies, as well as in athletes with a trained heart muscle, when the heart contracts with more force with each beat than in an ordinary person, and expels a larger percentage of the blood contained in it into the aorta.

In addition, if the patient has LV myocardial hypertrophy as a manifestation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or arterial hypertension, an increased EF may indicate that the heart muscle can still compensate for the onset of heart failure and tends to expel as much blood as possible into the aorta. As heart failure progresses, EF gradually decreases, so for patients with clinically manifesting CHF, it is very important to perform echocardioscopy in dynamics in order not to miss a decrease in EF.

The main reason for the violation of systolic (contractile) function of the myocardium is the development of chronic heart failure (CHF). In turn, CHF occurs and progresses due to diseases such as:

Ischemic heart disease - a decrease in blood flow through the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen to the heart muscle itself,
Past myocardial infarctions, especially macrofocal and transmural (extensive), as well as repeated ones, as a result of which normal muscle cells of the heart after a heart attack are replaced by scar tissue that does not have the ability to contract - post-infarction cardiosclerosis is formed (in the ECG description it can be seen as the abbreviation PICS),

Decreased EF due to myocardial infarction (b). Affected areas of the heart muscle cannot contract

The most common cause of a decrease in cardiac output is acute or past myocardial infarction, accompanied by a decrease in global or local contractility of the left ventricular myocardium.

All symptoms, which can be suspected of a decrease in the contractile function of the heart, are due to CHF. Therefore, the symptoms of this disease come out in the first place.

However, according to the observations of practitioners of ultrasound diagnostics, the following is often observed - in patients with severe signs of CHF, the ejection fraction index remains within the normal range, while in patients with no obvious symptoms, the ejection fraction index is significantly reduced. Therefore, despite the absence of symptoms, it is imperative for patients with cardiac pathology to perform echocardioscopy at least once a year.

So, the symptoms that make it possible to suspect a violation of myocardial contractility include:

Attacks of shortness of breath at rest or during physical exertion, as well as in the supine position, especially at night,
The load that provokes the occurrence of shortness of breath can be different - from significant, for example, walking for long distances (we are sick), to minimal household activity, when it is difficult for the patient to perform the simplest manipulations - cooking, tying shoelaces, walking to the next room, etc. d,
Weakness, fatigue, dizziness, sometimes loss of consciousness - all this indicates that the skeletal muscles and the brain receive little blood,
Puffiness on the face, shins and feet, and in severe cases - in the internal cavities of the body and throughout the body (anasarca) due to impaired blood circulation through the vessels of the subcutaneous fat, in which fluid retention occurs,
Pain in the right side of the abdomen, an increase in the volume of the abdomen due to fluid retention in the abdominal cavity (ascites) - occur due to venous congestion in the hepatic vessels, and long-term congestion can lead to cardiac (cardiac) cirrhosis of the liver.

In the absence of proper treatment of systolic myocardial dysfunction, such symptoms progress, increase and are more difficult to tolerate by the patient, so if even one of them occurs, you should consult a general practitioner or cardiologist.

Of course, no doctor will offer you to treat a low rate obtained by ultrasound of the heart. First, the doctor must identify the cause of the reduced EF, and then prescribe the treatment of the causative disease. Depending on it, the treatment may vary, for example, taking nitroglycerin preparations for coronary disease, surgical correction of heart defects, antihypertensive drugs for hypertension, etc. It is important for the patient to understand that if a decrease in the ejection fraction is observed, it means that heart failure really develops and it is necessary to follow the recommendations of the doctor for a long time and scrupulously.

In addition to drugs that affect the causative disease, the patient is prescribed drugs that can improve myocardial contractility. These include cardiac glycosides (digoxin, strophanthin, corglicon). However, they are prescribed strictly by the attending physician and their independent uncontrolled use is unacceptable, since poisoning can occur - glycoside intoxication.

To prevent overload of the heart with volume, that is, excess fluid, a diet is shown with a restriction of salt to 1.5 g per day and with a restriction of fluid intake to 1.5 liters per day. Diuretics (diuretics) are also successfully used - diacarb, diuver, veroshpiron, indapamide, torasemide, etc.

To protect the heart and blood vessels from the inside, drugs with so-called organoprotective properties - ACE inhibitors - are used. These include enalapril (Enap, Enam), perindopril (Prestarium, Prestans), lisinopril, captopril (Capoten). Also, among drugs with similar properties, ARA II inhibitors are widespread - losartan (Lorista, Lozap), valsartan (Valz), etc.

The treatment regimen is always selected individually, but the patient must be prepared for the fact that the ejection fraction does not normalize immediately, and the symptoms may disturb for some time after the start of therapy.

In some cases, the only method to cure the disease that caused the development of CHF is surgical. Surgery may be needed to replace valves, install stents or bypasses on coronary vessels, install a pacemaker, etc.

However, in case of severe heart failure (III-IV functional class) with extremely low ejection fraction, the operation may be contraindicated. For example, a contraindication to mitral valve replacement is a decrease in EF of less than 20%, and to implantation of a pacemaker - less than 35%. However, contraindications to surgery are identified during an internal examination by a cardiac surgeon.

Prevention

The preventive focus on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases leading to low ejection fraction remains especially relevant in today's environmentally unfavorable environment, in the era of a sedentary lifestyle at computers and eating unhealthy foods.

Even on this basis, we can say that frequent outdoor recreation outside the city, a healthy diet, adequate physical activity (walking, light running, exercise, gymnastics), giving up bad habits - all this is the key to long-term and proper functioning of the heart. - vascular system with normal contractility and fitness of the heart muscle.

How to increase the ejection fraction of the left ventricle?

03/24/2017, Daut, 57 years old

Drugs taken: warfarin, egilok, coraxan, etc.

The conclusion of the ECG, ultrasound, other studies: Extensive heart attack on 04.11.2016, on the same day, an operation was performed to replace the aortic valve, left ventricular fibrillation, and the installation of a pacemaker. The fraction is now 29-30, pressure 90/60, heart rate 70-80

Complaints: Complaints: 4.5 months have passed since the operation, the suture site is constantly tightening, acute stomach pains. Initially, 2 tablets per day were installed, I purchased an INR device for home use. Every day different results. The last indicator is 3.7. Weakness, fatigue.

How to increase the ejection fraction of the left ventricle, is it possible?

Possible causes of acute pain in the stomach, it is difficult to walk on a big one, what should be done?

Cardiac output: the norm and causes of deviation

What is ejection fraction and why should it be estimated?

Estimation of the ejection fraction of the heart

When a patient contacts the clinic with complaints of pain in the heart, the doctor will prescribe a complete diagnosis. A patient who encounters this problem for the first time may not understand what all the terms mean when certain parameters increase or decrease, how they are calculated.

The ejection fraction of the heart is determined with the following patient complaints:

heartache;
tachycardia;
dyspnea;
dizziness and fainting;
increased fatigue;
pain in the chest area;
interruptions in the work of the heart;
limb edema.

The ejection fraction index is determined in the following studies of the heart:

isotope ventriculography;
radiopaque ventriculography.

How is the ejection fraction calculated?

To calculate, the following formula is used: stroke volume times heart rate. The result will show how much blood is pushed out by the heart in 1 minute. The average volume is 5.5 liters.

Formulas for calculating cardiac output have names.

Teicholz formula. The calculation is performed automatically by the program, into which data on the final systolic and diastolic volume of the left ventricle are entered. The size of the organ also matters.
Simpson formula. The main difference lies in the possibility of getting into the slice of the circumference of all sections of the myocardium. The study is more revealing, it requires modern equipment.

The data obtained by two different formulas may differ by 10%. The data are indicative for the diagnosis of any disease of the cardiovascular system.

Important nuances in measuring the percentage of cardiac output:

the result is not affected by the gender of the person;
the older the person, the lower the rate;
a pathological condition is considered an indicator below 45%;
a decrease in the indicator of less than 35% leads to irreversible consequences;
a reduced rate may be an individual feature (but not lower than 45%);
the indicator increases with hypertension;
in the first few years of life, in children, the ejection rate exceeds the norm (60-80%).

Normal EF

Normal values of the ejection fraction of the heart

Causes of a reduced ejection fraction of the heart

The following pathologies lead to a decrease in the level of cardiac output:

cardiac ischemia;
myocardial infarction;
heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmia, tachycardia);
cardiomyopathy.

Other diseases that reduce cardiac output:

angina;
hypertension;
aneurysm of the wall of the ventricle;
infectious and inflammatory diseases (pericarditis, myocarditis, endocarditis);
myocardial dystrophy;
cardiomyopathy;
congenital pathologies, violation of the structure of the body;
vasculitis;
vascular pathology;
hormonal disruptions in the body;
diabetes;
obesity;
tumors of the glands;
intoxication.

Symptoms of reduced ejection fraction

The patient complains of the following symptoms:

increased fatigue, weakness;
the occurrence of a feeling of suffocation;
respiratory disorders;
hard to breathe in the supine position;
visual disturbances;
loss of consciousness;
heartache;
increased heart rate;
swelling of the lower extremities.

In more advanced stages and with the development of secondary diseases, the following symptoms occur:

decreased sensitivity of the limbs;
liver enlargement;
lack of coordination;
weight loss
nausea, vomiting, blood in the stool;
abdominal pain;
accumulation of fluid in the lungs and abdomen.

Ultrasound - norms and interpretation

Ultrasound examination of the heart

Ultrasound examination provides several indicators by which the doctor judges the state of the heart muscle, in particular, the functioning of the left ventricle.

Cardiac output, the norm is 55-60%;
The size of the atrium of the right chamber, the norm is 2.7-4.5 cm;
Aortic diameter, normal 2.1-4.1 cm;
The size of the atrium of the left chamber, the norm is 1.9-4 cm;
Stroke volume, standard cm.

When is treatment for reduced ejection fraction required?

Therapy is selected after a complete diagnosis, definition of the disease and its stage. In some cases, this is drug therapy, sometimes surgery.

How to increase the reduced ejection fraction?

Prevention

Preventive measures are aimed at improving the state of the cardiovascular system.

Active lifestyle.
Sports.
Proper nutrition.
Rejection of bad habits.
Outdoor recreation.
Getting rid of stress.

Ejection fraction of the heart

In the 1950s, Inge Elder was right when he proposed using ultrasound to visualize human organs. Today, this method plays an important and sometimes key role in the diagnosis of heart disease. Let's talk about deciphering his indicators.

1 Important diagnostic method

Ultrasound examination of the heart

Echocardiographic examination of the cardiovascular system is a very important and, moreover, quite affordable diagnostic method. In some cases, the method is the "gold standard", allowing you to verify a particular diagnosis. In addition, the method allows you to identify latent heart failure, which does not manifest itself during intense physical exertion. Echocardiography data (normal values) may vary slightly depending on the source. We present the guidelines proposed by the American Association of Echocardiography and the European Association for Cardiovascular Imaging from 2015.

2 Ejection fraction

Healthy ejection fraction and pathological (less than 45%)

The ejection fraction (EF) is of great diagnostic value, as it allows assessing the systolic function of the left ventricle and the right ventricle. The ejection fraction is the percentage of blood volume that is expelled into the vessels from the right and left ventricles during the systole phase. If, for example, out of 100 ml of blood, 65 ml of blood entered the vessels, this would be 65% as a percentage.

Left ventricle. The norm of the left ventricular ejection fraction in men is ≥ 52%, for women - ≥ 54%. In addition to the LV ejection fraction, the LV shortening fraction is also determined, which reflects the state of its pumping (contractile function). The norm for the shortening fraction (FU) of the left ventricle is ≥ 25%.

A low left ventricular ejection fraction can occur with rheumatic heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, myocardial infarction, and other conditions that lead to the development of heart failure (weakness of the heart muscle). A decrease in left ventricular FU is a sign of LV heart failure. Left ventricular FU decreases in heart diseases that lead to heart failure - myocardial infarction, heart defects, myocarditis, etc.

Right ventricle. The norm of the ejection fraction for the right ventricle (RV) is ≥ 45%.

3 Dimensions of the chambers of the heart

The size of the chambers of the heart is a parameter that is determined in order to exclude or confirm overload of the atria or ventricles.

Left atrium. The norm of the diameter of the left atrium (LA) in mm for men is ≤ 40, for women ≤ 38. An increase in the diameter of the left atrium may indicate heart failure in the patient. In addition to the diameter of the LP, its volume is also measured. The norm of LP volume for men in mm3 is ≤ 58, for women ≤ 52. The size of the LP increases with cardiomyopathies, mitral valve defects, arrhythmias (cardiac arrhythmias), and congenital heart defects.

Right atrium. For the right atrium (RA), as well as for the left atrium, the dimensions (diameter and volume) are determined by the EchoCG method. Normally, the diameter of the PP is ≤ 44 mm. The volume of the right atrium is divided by the body surface area (BSA). For men, the ratio of the volume of PP / PPT ≤ 39 ml / m2 is considered normal, for women - ≤33 ml / m2. The size of the right atrium can increase with insufficiency of the right heart. Pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other diseases can cause right atrial insufficiency.

ECHO Cardiography (ultrasound of the heart)

Left ventricle. For the ventricles, their own parameters have been introduced regarding their size. Since the functional state of the ventricles in systole and diastole is of interest to the practitioner, there are corresponding indicators. Main dimensions for LV:

Diastolic size in mm (men) - ≤ 58, women - ≤ 52;
Diastolic size / PPT (men) - ≤ 30 mm / m2, women - ≤ 31 mm / m2;
End diastolic volume (men) - ≤ 150 ml, women - ≤ 106 ml;
End-diastolic volume/PPT (men) - ≤ 74 ml/m2, women - ≤61 ml/m2;
Systolic size in mm (men) - ≤ 40, women - ≤ 35;
End systolic volume (men) - ≤ 61 ml, women - ≤ 42 ml;
End systolic volume/PPT (men) - ≤ 31 ml/m2, women - ≤ 24 ml/m2;

Indicators of diastolic and systolic volume and size can increase with myocardial diseases, heart failure, as well as with congenital and acquired heart defects.

Myocardial mass indicators

The mass of the LV myocardium may increase with thickening of its walls (hypertrophy). The cause of hypertrophy can be various diseases of the cardiovascular system: arterial hypertension, defects of the mitral, aortic valve, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Right ventricle. Basal diameter - ≤ 41 mm;

End diastolic volume (EDV) RV/BCA (men) ≤ 87 ml/m2, women ≤ 74 ml/m2;

End systolic volume (ESV) of the RV / PPT (men) - ≤ 44 ml / m2, women - 36 ml / m2;

The wall thickness of the pancreas is ≤ 5 mm.

Interventricular septum. The thickness of the IVS in men in mm - ≤ 10, in women - ≤ 9;

4 Valves

Echocardiography uses parameters such as valve area and mean pressure gradient to evaluate the condition of the valves.

5 Vessels

Blood vessels of the heart

Pulmonary artery. Pulmonary artery (PA) diameter - ≤ 21 mm, LA acceleration time - ≥110 ms. A decrease in the lumen of the vessel indicates stenosis or pathological narrowing of the pulmonary artery. Systolic pressure ≤ 30 mm Hg, mean pressure ≤ mm Hg; An increase in pressure in the pulmonary artery, exceeding the permissible limits, indicates the presence of pulmonary hypertension.

Inferior vena cava. The diameter of the inferior vena cava (IVC) - ≤ 21 mm; An increase in the inferior vena cava in diameter can be observed with a significant increase in the volume of the right atrium (RA) and a weakening of its contractile function. This condition can occur with narrowing of the right atrioventricular orifice and with insufficiency of the tricuspid valve (TC).

Other sources provide more detailed information on other valves, large vessels, and performance calculations. Here are some of them that were missing above:

The ejection fraction according to Simpson is the norm ≥ 45%, according to Teicholz - ≥ 55%. Simpson's method is used more often, as it has greater accuracy. According to this method, the entire LV cavity is conditionally divided into a certain number of thin discs. The EchoCG operator at the end of systole and diastole makes measurements. The Teicholz method for determining the ejection fraction is simpler, however, in the presence of asynergic zones in the LV, the obtained data on the ejection fraction are inaccurate.
The concept of normokinesis, hyperkinesis and hypokinesis. Such indicators are estimated by the amplitude of the interventricular septum and the posterior wall of the left ventricle. Normally, the fluctuations of the interventricular septum (IVS) are in the range of 0.5-0.8 cm, for the posterior wall of the left ventricle - 0.9 - 1.4 cm. If the amplitude of movements is less than the indicated figures, they speak of hypokinesis. In the absence of movement - akinesis. There is a concept and dyskinesia - the movement of the walls with a negative sign. With hyperkinesis, the indicators exceed normal values. Asynchronous movement of the LV walls may also occur, which often occurs in violation of intraventricular conduction, atrial fibrillation (AF), artificial pacemaker.

The concept of "ejection fraction" is of interest not only to specialists. Any person who is undergoing examination or treatment for diseases of the heart and blood vessels may come across such a concept as ejection fraction. Most often, the patient hears this term for the first time, undergoing an ultrasound examination of the heart - dynamic echography or radiopaque examination. In Russia, thousands of people require daily imaging examinations. More often, an ultrasound examination of the heart muscle is performed. It is after such an examination that the patient faces the question: ejection fraction - what is the norm? You can get the most accurate information from your doctor. In this article, we will also try to answer this question.

Heart disease in our country

Diseases of the cardiovascular system in civilized countries are the first cause of death for the majority of the population. In Russia, coronary heart disease and other diseases of the circulatory system are extremely widespread. After the age of 40, the risk of getting sick becomes especially high. Risk factors for cardiovascular problems are male gender, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, carbohydrate metabolism disorders, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and some others. In the event that you have several risk factors or complaints from the cardiovascular system, then it is worth seeking medical help from a general practitioner or cardiologist for an examination. Using special equipment, the doctor will determine the size of the left ventricular ejection fraction and other parameters, and, therefore, the presence of heart failure.

What examinations can a cardiologist prescribe?

The doctor may be alerted by the patient's complaints of pain in the heart, pain behind the sternum, interruptions in the work of the heart, palpitations, shortness of breath during exercise, dizziness, fainting, swelling in the legs, fatigue, decreased performance, weakness. The first studies are usually an electrocardiogram and a biochemical blood test. Further, Holter monitoring of the electrocardiogram, bicycle ergometry and ultrasound examination of the heart can be carried out.

What studies will show the ejection fraction

Ultrasonography of the heart, as well as radiopaque or isotopic ventriculography, will provide information about the ejection fraction of the left and right ventricles. Ultrasound examination is the cheapest, safest and easiest for the patient. Even the simplest ultrasound machines can give an idea of the cardiac output fraction.

Ejection fraction of the heart

The ejection fraction is a measure of how efficiently the heart is working with each beat. The ejection fraction is commonly referred to as the percentage of the volume of blood ejected into the vessels from the ventricle of the heart during each contraction. If there was 100 ml of blood in the ventricle, and after the contraction of the heart, 60 ml entered the aorta, then we can say that the ejection fraction was 60%. When you hear the term "ejection fraction", it usually refers to the function of the left ventricle of the heart. Blood from the left ventricle enters the systemic circulation. It is left ventricular failure that leads to the development of the clinical picture of heart failure most often. The ejection fraction of the right ventricle can also be assessed with an ultrasound of the heart.

Ejection fraction - what is the norm?

A healthy heart, even at rest, with each beat throws more than half of the blood from the left ventricle into the vessels. If this figure is significantly less, then we are talking about heart failure. Myocardial ischemia, cardiomyopathy, heart defects and other diseases can lead to this condition. So, the norm of the left ventricular ejection fraction is 55-70%. A value of 40-55% indicates that the ejection fraction is below normal. An indicator of less than 40% indicates the presence of heart failure. With a decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 35%, the patient has a high risk of life-threatening interruptions in the work of the heart.

Low ejection fraction

Now that you know your ejection fraction limits, you can evaluate how your heart is working. If the left ventricular ejection fraction on echocardiography is below normal, you will need to see a doctor immediately. It is important for a cardiologist not only to know that heart failure exists, but also to find out the cause of this condition. Therefore, after an ultrasound examination, other types of diagnostics can be carried out. A low ejection fraction can be a predisposing factor for feeling unwell, swelling and shortness of breath. Currently, in the arsenal of a cardiologist there are means of treating diseases that caused a low ejection fraction. The main thing is the constant outpatient monitoring of the patient. In many cities, specialized cardiological dispensaries have been organized for free dynamic monitoring of patients with heart failure. The cardiologist may prescribe conservative treatment with pills or surgical manipulations.

Treatment options for low ejection fraction of the heart

If the cause of the low ejection fraction of the heart is heart failure, then appropriate treatment will be required. The patient is advised to limit fluid intake to less than 2 liters per day. Also, the patient will have to abandon the use of table salt in food. The cardiologist may prescribe drugs: diuretics, digoxin, ACE inhibitors, or beta-blockers. Diuretic drugs somewhat reduce the volume of circulating blood, and hence the amount of work for the heart. Other drugs reduce the heart muscle's need for oxygen, make its function more efficient, but less expensive.

An increasing role is played by the surgical treatment of reduced cardiac output fraction. Operations have been developed to restore blood flow in the coronary vessels in coronary heart disease. Surgery is also used to treat severe valvular heart disease. According to indications, artificial pacemakers can be installed to prevent arrhythmia in the patient and eliminate fibrillation. Interventions on the heart are long-term heavy operations that require extremely high qualifications from the surgeon and anesthesiologist. Therefore, such operations are usually performed only in specialized centers in large cities.

Medical treatment of heart failure with low left ventricular ejection fraction

Traditionally, any type of vigorous physical activity has been discouraged in CHF due to the fear that additional hemodynamic stress will further impair myocardial contractility. However, this view was refuted by the lack of correlation between LV function and work performance.

The high efficiency of drugs that serve as the basis for the treatment of patients with CHF has been confirmed by the results of large randomized trials. The role of surgical methods of treatment of such patients is constantly growing. The organization of outpatient supervision is of great importance. Although lifestyle measures, .

The main goals of the treatment of patients with myocarditis, to achieve which the therapy should be directed: prevention of the formation of irreversible dilatation of the heart chambers; prevention of CHF development; prevention of the occurrence of life-threatening conditions for the patient (severe rhythm and conduction disturbances).

What does normal, low and increased heart ejection fraction mean?

Before diagnosing a patient with chronic heart failure, the doctor conducts a diagnosis with the obligatory determination of such an indicator as the ejection fraction. It reflects the amount of blood that the left ventricle pushes out at the time of its contraction into the lumen of the aorta. That is, through such a study, it is possible to find out whether the heart is effectively coping with its work or there is a need to prescribe heart medications.

The norm of the EF indicator

To assess the work of the heart, namely the left ventricle, the Teicholtz or Simpson formulas are used. I must say that it is from this department that the blood enters the general circulation and, with left ventricular failure, the clinical picture of heart failure most often develops.

The closer this indicator is to the norm, the better the main "motor" of the body is reduced and the more favorable the prediction for life and health. If the obtained value is much less than normal, then we can conclude that the internal organs do not receive the necessary amount of oxygen and nutrients from the blood, which means that the heart muscle needs to be supported somehow.

The calculation is made directly on the equipment on which the patient is examined. In modern ultrasound diagnostic rooms, preference is given to the Simpson method, which is considered more accurate, although the Teicholtz formula is used no less frequently. The results of both methods can differ within 10%.

Ideally, the ejection fraction should be 50-60%. According to Simpson, the lower limit is 45%, and according to Teicholz, 55%. Both methods are characterized by a fairly high level of information about the ability of the myocardium to contract. If the value obtained fluctuates between 35–40%, they speak of advanced heart failure. And even lower rates are fraught with deadly consequences.

Reasons for the decrease in EF

Low values can be caused by pathologies such as:

Cardiac ischemia. As a result, blood flow through the coronary arteries decreases.
History of myocardial infarction. This leads to the replacement of normal heart muscles with scars that do not have the necessary ability to contract.
Arrhythmia, tachycardia and other ailments that disrupt the rhythm of the body's main "motor" and conduction.
Cardiomyopathy. It consists in an increase or lengthening of the heart muscle, which is due to hormonal failure, prolonged hypertension, and heart defects.

Symptoms of the disease

The diagnosis of "low ejection fraction" can be made on the basis of symptoms characteristic of this disease. Such patients often complain of attacks of shortness of breath, both during physical exertion and at rest. Shortness of breath can be provoked by long walking, as well as performing the simplest housework: mopping, cooking.

In the process of impaired blood circulation, fluid retention occurs, which leads to the appearance of edema, and in severe cases, they affect the internal organs and tissues. A person begins to suffer from pain in the abdomen on the right side, and stagnation of venous blood in the vessels of the liver can be fraught with cirrhosis.

These symptoms are characteristic of a decrease in the contractile function of the main "motor" of the body, but it often happens that the level of ejection fraction remains normal, so it is very important to be examined and do echocardioscopy at least once a year, especially for people with heart diseases.

An increase in EF to 70-80% should also alert, as this may be a sign that the heart muscle cannot compensate for the growing heart failure and seeks to eject as much blood as possible into the aorta.

As the disease progresses, the LV work indicator will decrease, and it is echocardioscopy in dynamics that will catch this moment. A high ejection fraction is characteristic of healthy people, in particular, athletes, whose heart muscle is sufficiently trained and able to contract with greater force than that of an ordinary person.

Treatment

It is possible to increase the reduced EF. To do this, doctors use not only drug therapy, but also other methods:

Prescribe drugs to improve myocardial contractility. These include cardiac glycosides, after which there is a noticeable improvement.
To prevent overload of the heart with excess fluid, they urge to follow a diet with a restriction of salt to 1.5 g per day and fluid intake to 1.5 liters per day. Along with this, diuretics are prescribed.
Organoprotective agents are prescribed to help protect the heart and blood vessels.
A decision is made about surgery. For example, valve prosthetics are performed, shunts are installed on coronary vessels, etc. However, an extremely low ejection fraction may become a contraindication to surgery.

Prevention

Prevention to prevent the development of heart disease is of great importance, especially in children. In the age of high technology, when most of the work is done by machines, as well as constantly deteriorating environmental conditions and malnutrition, the risk of developing heart ailments increases significantly.

Therefore, it is very important to eat right, exercise, and be outdoors more often. It is this lifestyle that will ensure normal contractility of the heart and muscle fitness.