Gaga131

[Gaga131]

My husband heart rate is only working at 30% what does that how will that affect him and has anybody had anything done that can improve it

[Tos92]

I’m sorry to hear about your husband. Could you kindly clarify what you mean. Do mean his heart is only working at 30%, his pulse rate is 30, or his oxygen saturation levels are at 30? More forum members maybe able to help you this way.

All the best.

Tos

[Gaga131 in reply to Tos92]

He heart is only working at 30%

[Tos92 in reply to Gaga131]

What is his diagnosis?

[Gaga131 in reply to Tos92]

Hi tos92 don't really know atm to be honest they just said he had a heart attack and it'd damage his heart quite badly and his heart is only working at 30%they have put him on different tablets.He had the heart attack when we were on holiday in spain they fitted 2 stents and said his heart was Working at 40% but when we came back to England went to the hospital (had to go private because the NHS appointments were for next year) they done a scan and said its only working 30% how can it go down in spain we were told with rest and medication is should go up I don't know what to do to be honest??

[Tos92 in reply to Gaga131]

Some people sustain irreversible heart muscle damage after a heart attack, and others don’t such as myself. Fortunately, I had reversible ischaemia when I had my heart attack last year which resolves with time. I would contact his GP or cardiologist to understand exactly what they mean by that percentage. If you’re unable to contact them, I would give the BHF cardiac nurses a call tomorrow with your questions. It might be useful to have his discharge report in front of you or his recent medical letter that has the results on them when you call.

0808 802 1234

Let us know how you get on.

Wishing you & your husband all the best.

[Gaga131 in reply to Tos92]

Thankyou

[Anon2023]

hi. I’m sorry to hear about your husband. Scans can vary between technicians so having a result of 30% and 40% isn’t that unusual. I’m assuming that you are talking about the Ejection Fraction (EF) which is the rate that blood is pumped around the body. If it is EF then it’s important to know that nobody operates at 100%. A normal reading is between 50% and 70% I believe. EF can be improved with medicine and other procedures depending upon individual circumstances. It’s really important that your husbands doctor sits down with you both and explains everything in clear terms. There’s nothing worse than the anxiety caused by the “what if’s”. You can also ring the British Heart Foundation nurses as Tos has said. I wish you all the best. X

[Gaga131 in reply to Anon2023]

Thankyou x

[Cruiser25 in reply to Gaga131]

Hi Gaga131, just as Anon2023 said the Ejection Fraction reports can vary depending upon interpretation by the technicians...by as much as 8 -10%! Something the Registrar told me 19 months ago after my heart attack...the heart has been stunned & needs time to recover. Yes damage sustained after a HA & 7 stents accross 2 arteries, can be permanent, which is where I am, 38% EF on discharge and only 41% now after a stress cardiac MRI with contrast, so much more accurate. But after rehab, lifestyle changes, lots of meds (which only this week needed to be tweaked again) as I'm still improving...I'm regularly going to Parkrun, when my calf behaves itself, I still go to a follow on rehab class and back at work full time. There will be blips along the way & listening to ones body is vital,

So yes, it can be improved, just please try not to get too worried over the numbers ( v difficult...I know), it's all about how he feels & what he can do with is 30/40 something %, and go on to improve, which he will.

The heart is a strange muscle, it gets damaged & needs to rest, but it can't completely rest as it needs to work to keep us going ....yet to improve and go on to recover it needs to be exercised & even more strange it needs to pump to feed itself so it can work ..so it can pump to the rest of the body quite the paradox really. Isn't the human body interesting.

Look after you, it's always easier for the patient, and all the attention will be on him.

Good luck & keep us posted