Low EF

[Bluemoon47]

Is there any treatment available which will improve ones EF?

[Darcy2000]

Anxiously waiting for a reply on this one. I am in the same boat

[Bluemoon47 in reply to Darcy2000]

Have had a few replies to my post, all suggesting exercise and healthy eating, but so far no-one has said their EF has improved.

[RufusScamp]

Medication and a pacemaker in my case. I'm not sure if my EF has increased from 20%, but I was coping well before the diagnosis. Appointment with cardiologist next week, anyway.I think regular gentle exercise is good. They told me it's best to be out of breath, but still able to converse, as a guide.

[Bluemoon47 in reply to RufusScamp]

Would be interested to know if your EF has improved when you have seen your cardiologist.

[RufusScamp in reply to Bluemoon47]

I'm not seeing her, unfortunately. It's been changed to a phone call. Mind you, the way folk are carrying on today, I'll be pleased not to have to go into town.

[Bluemoon47 in reply to RufusScamp]

Sorry to hear that. It seems to be par for the course at the moment, everything is on hold. I am sure she will do her best in the circumstances and have access to any test results, blood, ECG. echocardiograph etc, you have had, good luck.

[RufusScamp in reply to Bluemoon47]

Thanks. I have been very impressed by my local team. I feel I can trust them.

[Hidden]

The best treatment, if you can, exercise - start gentle and s l o w l y increase.

[Bluemoon47 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the advice. Has your EF improved following this regime?

[Hidden in reply to Bluemoon47]

Yes, it’s now ~45%, how much of the improvement is down to exercise I guess is impossible to say, meds & diet, as stated, also play an important part.

[Bluemoon47 in reply to Hidden]

Wow, that's amazing. Can I ask how old you are and how much exercise you do a day. Also how long since your HA. I can manage 500 paces then I have to rest because of the pains in my hips and pins and needles in my feet but will keep trying to do more as it has worked for you.

[Hidden in reply to Bluemoon47]

I am 63, I was 60 when I had Sudden Cardiac Arrest followed by OHS.I was very fit before trained 6/7 days a week and have slowly got my self back to a reasonable level of fitness, I now train for between 30-90 mins everyday, cardio almost everyday, 4 days 60mins weight training.

Remember we are all different, not just in age, but what caused us to be here and where we were before - as in diet/exercise etc.

So you need to find the right balance that works for you, exercise to any level is better than none, improvements however small are still improvements.

Good luck

[Bluemoon47 in reply to Hidden]

Wow and double wow, you take my breath away just reading about your daily routines, amazing. Thanks Gaz for those words of encouragement.

[Hidden]

Meds, exercise, healthy eating & maintaining a healthy weight

[Bluemoon47 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks I am doing all that but I can my EF be improved, has this worked for you?

[Lezzers in reply to Bluemoon47]

It has worked for my husband, his EF has gone up from 30 to 51 so his heart failure has gone from moderate/ severe to mild.

But your EF is just a number, a cardiologist is more interested in your symptoms. Some people have a low EF but few symptoms whereas other have a high EF & are very symptomatic.

[Bluemoon47 in reply to Lezzers]

Thanks for your reply. Wonderful to hear so many success stories about improving ones EF. Will keep doing the exercises, taking the meds and hope mine improves. Take care.

[Tombstone]

My Cardio said meds plus healthy diet can improve EF,

[Bluemoon47 in reply to Tombstone]

That's good to hear. Hope all goes well for you.

[MDR1]

Mine has improved from 26 to 40% in 18 months. I've been on ramapril, bisoprolol and furosemide. My diet has always been healthy and I walk 8-10 km 3-4 times a week. My cardiac team is considering swapping ramapril for entresto, which I hear is more effective.

[Bluemoon47 in reply to MDR1]

I am not familiar with Entresto. Is it new to the UK? I am on Ticagrelor, Aspirin, Bisoprolol, Bumetanide, Candesartan, Atorvastatin, Ivabradine Atorvastatin and Omeprazole.

[MDR1 in reply to Bluemoon47]

I think it came on the market just under 2 years ago. It is very expensive but your cardiologist will put you on them if they think it will work. The thing with these meds is that everyone has a unique combination they need to be on so they will prescribe what's best for you.

[Bluemoon47 in reply to MDR1]

Thanks for your reassuring words. I am sure you are right. I will try to ignore my EF and estimated life expectancy of 3-5 years, as I do feel OK, but then I felt really well the day I had my heart attack.

[MDR1 in reply to Bluemoon47]

Personally I don't ignore my EF value as I think it is important, but that's my view.Have the doctors told you your life expectancy? You haven't given any details about your heart failure.

It is also best to listen to your cardiac team as the members on the forum can only give you their opinions.

All the best

[Bluemoon47 in reply to MDR1]

I do agree MDR1 and always follow the advice given by my cardiac team, they are brilliant. On the waiting list for an Internal Defibrillator which will give me extra reassurance and confidence to do more. Thanks.

[Bluemoon47]

I have had 2 echocardiograms and they were both 20%.

[MDR1]

Good luck🙂. I had one fitted in January as a preventative measure. Nothing to worry about.

[Prada47]

Hello

Lets start from EF I have been down to 27 % and now at 40 % so yes it can improve. Currently I have had Heart Failure since 2015 I was informed about it after a double bypass, my Right Coronary Artery is 100% blocked so no bypass possible !!! I have had a couple of stents put in my LAD since the bypass operation to try to improve my EF but it didn't work !!!

Reasonable EF but poor on the NYHA scale mostly shortage of breath.

I have had a roller coaster with medication and for me I am on the Maximum Dose of Entresto and Bisoprolol, which is 7.5mg Bisoprolol, 49/51mg Entresto and what I refer to as the Mickey Mouse Medication 75mg Aspirin, 10mg Pravastatin, 20mg Omeprazole and the Eplerenone 20mg

I think what is important is that I trust the Cardiologist, Heart Failure Nurse and my GP to take care of me. Only exercise I do is Walk around 3 to 5 km 3 times a week. Cardiologist doesn't want to go down CRT route just yet so he must think I am going to go on for a bit !!!

I have asked the question is this terminal and I got the answer there is a very good chance something else will get you long before the Heart Failure does.

So I don't really worry even though I know there is a possibility things may still go downhill Keeping popping the pills and enjoy life after all we only have one. I do enjoy life, but watch my weight only real vice I have is a few cans of beer 8 or a maximum of 12 in a week I will soon be 74 so not saving myself for anything special !!!

ps started on the Heart Journey in 1982 with a Heart Attack so I will let you do the maths lol

Finally listen to yourself only you know how you feel and only you can know what your capable of.

Vaccinated Hands Face Space to Stay Safe

[Bluemoon47 in reply to Prada47]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Judging by the diagnoses report in my discharge letter I am very lucky to be here at all, so I am making the most of it. Take care.

[Bigheart58]

My EF improved significantly thanks to an ICD, medication and just moderate exercise. It was 35% after my HA just over a year ago and it increased to 48% when I last had an echocardiogram. I’m having another one in a couple of weeks so hopefully it will be even higher.

[MDR1 in reply to Bigheart58]

Medication, exercise and healthy diet will improve your EF, but not the ICD. ICDs are there to restart your heart in case of cardiac arrest. They can also be used as a pacemaker. But they do not improve EF.

[Bluemoon47 in reply to Bigheart58]

Good to hear that EF can be improved upon even with moderate exercise. Thanks for taking the time to reply. Good luck, hope it's even better next time.