Improving ejection fraction (EF) is a goal for individuals looking to enhance their heart’s pumping efficiency and overall cardiovascular well-being. Ejection fraction serves as a primary indicator of heart health, reflecting how effectively the heart’s main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, expels blood with each contraction. A higher EF generally points to a more robust and efficient heart. While various factors can influence EF, a comprehensive approach involving lifestyle adjustments, medical therapies, and consistent professional guidance can contribute to its improvement.
Understanding Ejection Fraction
Ejection fraction (EF) is a measurement that indicates the percentage of blood pumped out of a ventricle with each heart beat. This measurement helps healthcare professionals assess how efficiently the heart is functioning as a pump, and it also quantifies the overall efficiency of the heart’s pumping action. Specifically, EF often refers to the left ventricle, which is the heart’s main pumping chamber responsible for sending oxygenated blood to the entire body. A healthy heart effectively pumps out a significant portion of the blood it contains with every single contraction.
Normal ejection fraction ranges typically fall between 50% and 75% for the left ventricle. An EF below this range, such as 40% or less, can signify reduced heart function, often associated with conditions like heart failure. While a low EF indicates that the heart is not pumping as strongly as it should, it does not always predict the severity of symptoms or overall prognosis. Indeed, some individuals might have a low EF but experience only mild symptoms. For example, an EF of 40% or less is commonly associated with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). A mildly reduced EF, between 41% and 49%, may suggest early heart damage or cardiomyopathy.
Lifestyle Adjustments for Cardiac Health
Adopting a heart-healthy diet is an important step in improving ejection fraction and supporting overall cardiovascular health. Dietary patterns such as the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet or those based on Mediterranean principles emphasize consuming a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, along with lean proteins. These dietary approaches also focus on strictly limiting saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugars. Reducing sodium intake, often found in processed foods, is particularly beneficial for managing blood pressure and fluid retention, which can significantly strain the heart.
Engaging in regular physical activity plays a beneficial role in strengthening the heart muscle. Moderate-intensity aerobic exercises, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling, for at least 150 minutes per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, can both improve and enhance the heart’s pumping efficiency. Before starting any new exercise regimen, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider, especially for individuals with existing heart conditions, to ensure the activity is safe and entirely appropriate for their condition.
Maintaining a healthy body weight helps to significantly reduce the workload on the heart. Excess body weight can contribute to conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, all of which can negatively impact heart function and potentially lower ejection fraction. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise can effectively alleviate this strain. Losing even a modest amount of weight can lead to notable improvements in metabolic function and the heart’s pumping ability.
Quitting smoking is one of the most impactful lifestyle changes for cardiac health, as smoking directly damages blood vessels and reduces oxygen delivery to the heart, thereby directly impairing its function. The risk of heart attack and stroke can be reduced by as much as half within one year of quitting. Limiting or entirely avoiding alcohol consumption can also greatly benefit the heart, as excessive alcohol intake can weaken the heart muscle over time and is strongly linked to high blood pressure, heart failure, and damage to heart muscle. Furthermore, managing stress through various techniques like mindfulness, meditation, or engaging in relaxing hobbies can effectively reduce the physiological burden on the heart, contributing to overall cardiac well-being.
Medical and Procedural Therapies
Pharmacological interventions represent a primary approach in managing and often improving ejection fraction in individuals with reduced heart function. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are medications that help relax blood vessels and reduce the heart’s workload, which can significantly improve its pumping ability. Beta-blockers constitute another important class of medications that can slow the heart rate and reduce the force of contractions, thereby allowing the heart to fill more completely and pump more efficiently over time.
Diuretics are often prescribed to help the body eliminate excess fluid and sodium, which in turn reduces swelling and eases the heart’s burden. Aldosterone antagonists can effectively block hormones that contribute to heart damage and fluid retention. Newer medications, such as SGLT2 inhibitors and angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), have also demonstrated significant benefits in improving outcomes for individuals with heart failure, including potential improvements in ejection fraction by protecting both the heart and kidneys. These medications work through various mechanisms to reduce strain on the heart, improve its structural integrity, and enhance its overall ability to pump blood.
In some cases, implantable devices may be specifically recommended to support heart function and rhythm. Pacemakers can help regulate a slow or irregular heartbeat, ensuring consistent and effective pumping. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are designed to detect and correct dangerously fast heart rhythms, which can compromise the heart’s pumping efficiency. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices coordinate the contractions of the heart’s ventricles, allowing them to pump more effectively, often leading to notable improvements in ejection fraction for specific patients.
Surgical interventions may become necessary when other treatments are insufficient or when the underlying cause of reduced EF requires direct repair. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can significantly improve blood flow to the heart muscle when arteries are blocked, potentially restoring function. Valve repair or replacement procedures address faulty heart valves that impede efficient blood flow, thereby reducing the heart’s workload. In severe cases of advanced heart failure, a heart transplant may be considered as a last resort, replacing the failing heart with a healthy donor heart when other treatments are no longer effective.
Ongoing Monitoring and Professional Guidance
Regular medical check-ups are important for individuals seeking to improve their ejection fraction and effectively manage their heart health. These appointments allow healthcare providers to thoroughly assess the heart’s function, monitor any changes, and adjust treatment plans as needed. Consistent communication with a cardiologist or primary care physician is important to ensure that all aspects of care are well-coordinated and optimized for the patient’s benefit.
Adherence to prescribed treatment plans, including both medications and recommended lifestyle modifications, is important for sustained improvement. Missing doses or deviating from dietary and exercise guidelines can significantly hinder progress and potentially worsen heart function. Improving ejection fraction is a continuous process that benefits from consistent effort and professional oversight.