Ejection Fraction: If you want to understand the strength of the heart, you should never take the ejection fraction (EF) lightly. The percentage of blood that the heart sends to the body in every heartbeat is called EF. If the heart contracts strongly then the pumping remains good and the EF becomes normal, but when the heart muscles start getting tired, stiffness increases or the heart does not get the required strength, then the EF starts decreasing. For this reason, doctors first check the EF report of a heart patient. Now the question is what is EF? What is the method of measuring EF? When can EF decrease? Let us know about this-
what is ef
As Myoclinic reports, ejection fraction (EF) measures how much blood your heart pumps with each beat. It is expressed as a percentage. This reflects your heart’s pumping ability, with a normal ejection fraction being between 55% and 70%. Low ejection fraction can be a sign of heart failure, while even a healthy heart does not pump 100 percent of the blood normally.
What is normal ejection fraction?
In a healthy heart the ejection fraction is 50% to 70%. With each heartbeat, 50% to 70% of the blood from your left ventricle is pumped into your body.
ejection fraction percentage
Gender Normal Mild Abnormal Moderate Abnormal Severe Abnormal
Male 52% to 72% 41% to 51% 30% to 40% Below 30%
Woman 54% to 74% 41% to 53% 30% to 40% Below 30%
Let us tell you that some people with normal ejection fraction also have heart failure. This is called heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
Correct way to measure EF
The easiest and safest way to measure EF is the echo test. In this, the walls of the heart are clearly visible and it is known how much blood the heart is pumping, whether the valves are working properly or not and how the blood flow is. It is considered good to get this test done at least once a year. The range of EF also tells a lot. 55-70 is normal, 41-54 is considered mild deficiency, 31-40 is considered moderate deficiency and less than 30 is considered serious.
Reasons for low EF
There can be many reasons behind low EF, like chronic high BP, history of heart attack, excessive stress, excessive alcohol consumption, uncontrolled sugar, blockage, thyroid problem, smoking and some viral infections which weaken the heart muscles. Symptoms of reduced EF also often appear gradually, such as shortness of breath while climbing stairs, getting tired quickly, increased heartbeat, swelling in the legs or trouble breathing at night.
What does Ayurveda say on EF?
According to Ayurveda, when the heart becomes weak, the strength and vitality of the body starts getting affected. Deficiency of Rasadhatu, imbalance of doshas and mental stress can worsen it further. Medicines like Arjuna, Draksha, Ashwagandha and Pushkarmool are considered to nourish the heart. Considerable improvement has also been seen by taking light walks, balanced diet and keeping the mind calm.
From a scientific point of view, low EF means that the heart muscles are weak or damaged. The right medicine and lifestyle modifications together increase EF by 10-15 percent in many patients.
What to do to strengthen your heart
Less salt, light food, morning walk, BP-sugar control, reducing stress and sleeping and waking up on time help in strengthening the heart, but if suddenly breathing stops, there is severe chest pain or the heartbeat is felt very fast, then one should immediately contact the doctor.
