Ejection Fraction
e·jec·tion frac·tion — ee-JEK-shun FRAK-shun
Definition
Ejection fraction is a measurement of how well your heart pumps blood with each beat, expressed as a percentage. Specifically, it represents the percentage of blood in the left ventricle (your heart's main pumping chamber) that is pushed out with each contraction. A normal ejection fraction is between 55% and 70%, meaning your heart pumps out more than half of the blood in the ventricle with each beat.
To visualize this, imagine squeezing a water balloon. If the balloon holds 100 mL of water and your squeeze pushes out 60 mL, your "ejection fraction" would be 60% — within the normal range. A weak squeeze that only pushes out 30 mL would represent an ejection fraction of 30%, indicating the heart isn't pumping effectively.
Ejection fraction is one of the most important measurements used to assess heart function, particularly in diagnosing and monitoring heart failure. It is typically measured using an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart), though it can also be measured with cardiac MRI or nuclear medicine scans.
Also Known As
Key Facts
- •Normal ejection fraction: 55-70%. Mildly reduced: 41-54%. Moderately reduced: 30-40%. Severely reduced: below 30%.
- •Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) means the heart muscle has weakened and cannot pump effectively.
- •Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) means the heart pumps normally but is too stiff to fill properly.
- •Ejection fraction can improve with proper treatment, including medications, lifestyle changes, and sometimes devices.
- •An echocardiogram is the most common and non-invasive way to measure ejection fraction.
- •Very low ejection fractions (below 35%) may qualify patients for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).
How It Relates To Your Health
If you've been diagnosed with heart failure or have had a heart attack, your doctor will likely monitor your ejection fraction regularly. Understanding your EF number helps you gauge how well your treatment is working and why certain medications or devices are recommended. An improving ejection fraction is a positive sign that the heart is recovering and responding to therapy.
Key medications that can improve ejection fraction include ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and newer drugs like sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto). Regular exercise through cardiac rehabilitation has also been shown to improve ejection fraction and overall heart function in many patients.
Sources
- Ejection Fraction — American Heart Association
- Heart Failure — National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH)
- Heart failure — Mayo Clinic
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