Ejection fraction, a key indicator of heart health, measures the efficiency of the heart’s pumping action. While a reduced ejection fraction can signal various heart conditions, it is often possible to improve this measurement through medical interventions and lifestyle adjustments, leading to better health outcomes and a higher quality of life.
Understanding Ejection Fraction
Ejection fraction (EF) quantifies the percentage of blood the left ventricle, the heart’s primary pumping chamber, pushes out with each contraction. This measurement is expressed as a percentage. For most adults, a normal ejection fraction falls within the range of 50% to 75%.
An EF between 41% and 49% is considered mildly reduced, while an EF of 40% or less indicates heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Factors contributing to a reduced EF include heart attack damage, heart muscle diseases like cardiomyopathy, or heart valve issues. Uncontrolled high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and arrhythmias can also weaken the heart muscle, leading to a reduced ejection fraction.
Strategies for Improvement
Improving ejection fraction involves a comprehensive approach combining medical management, lifestyle changes, and addressing underlying health conditions. Healthcare providers prescribe medications to enhance heart function and reduce its workload. ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and ARNIs help widen blood vessels, improving blood flow and reducing strain on the heart. Beta-blockers slow the heart rate and lessen the heart’s workload. SGLT2 inhibitors and diuretics can be beneficial; SGLT2 inhibitors offer cardiovascular protection, while diuretics help remove excess fluid, reducing swelling and improving breathing.
Lifestyle modifications play a role in supporting heart health and improving ejection fraction. Adopting a heart-healthy diet, characterized by reduced sodium intake and increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, benefits the heart. Regular physical activity, as advised by a healthcare professional, strengthens the heart muscle and improves overall cardiovascular fitness. Quitting smoking and limiting or eliminating alcohol consumption are important steps, as these substances can directly harm heart muscle cells and worsen heart failure symptoms. Managing stress through practices like meditation or nature walks supports heart function by reducing elevated blood pressure and inflammation.
Treating the root causes of a low ejection fraction is important for improvement. Managing high blood pressure and diabetes, if present, can lead to better heart function. Addressing heart valve problems through repair or replacement, or treating arrhythmias that might be straining the heart, can restore the heart’s ability to pump effectively. A collaborative approach with healthcare providers ensures all contributing factors are identified and managed, forming a plan for improving heart health.
Monitoring and Sustaining Improvement
Regular monitoring tracks changes in ejection fraction and ensures the effectiveness of treatment plans. Medical professionals assess EF through follow-up echocardiograms, which use sound waves to create images of the heart and evaluate its pumping efficiency. This allows doctors to observe whether the heart’s function is improving and to make adjustments to medications or lifestyle recommendations. Improvements in ejection fraction are accompanied by a reduction in symptoms and an improved quality of life for individuals.
Sustaining an improved ejection fraction requires ongoing commitment and adherence to the established treatment regimen. Continuing prescribed medications and maintaining beneficial lifestyle changes prevent future decline and preserve heart health. Regular check-ups with healthcare providers are important to monitor overall health, address any new concerns, and ensure the heart remains stable. While improvement is achievable, consistent medical care and personal dedication are important for long-term stability and well-being.