I have been recently diagnosed with a low EF of now 25%. Just awaiting another apppintment.. and been put on meds immediatley. Google is soooo bad and scary reading some of this stufd. Question.. what can iexpect in the futire? What can i do to help impove this other than taking the meds?
Anyone been here who can shed some light for me? Funny the doctpr asked if i had questions and i froze after he asked was there history of Sudden Death in the family.
Juzt need a clear head and some sleep.
Lee
Read the British Heart Foundation site for information. Dr Google is not helpful as so much information and it is very hard to decide what applies to you etc. My husband's EF is 23% and has been there since February. It will depend on why your EF is 25% and the cardiology team will steadily work to find out what is causing this. If it is cardiac failure / heart failure then you will be asked to take medication - look at the Pumping Marvellous website for information about these medications. If there is problems getting enough blood to your heart muscle because the blood vessels supplying the heart are narrowed or blocked then there are different operations which help with this. In my husband's case it is both so he is taking the medication and waiting for an operation. Prognosis is for improved quality of life and length of life if you take the medication and / or have an operation. Walk as much as you are comfortable with and rest if you feel tired or if you get heaviness / pain in the chest. All the usual things, stop smoking, cut down alcohol and eat healthily. And be prepared for an emotional roller coaster, perfectly ordinary and necessary as at times things may all be overwhelming and difficult to absorb. If you can take someone with you to appointments and take a note book to write down what is said to you and to have a list of questions before you go. Some people on here have had EF of 10% or 15%.
Well said cotonh. As someone with a low EF23% you said it all perfectly.
Hello there...my EF was 25 when I was diagnosed with Heart Failure 4years ago, it is now 41. With medication and exercise it can be improved. Good luck 🙂
What has changed between the 2 readings and when was the 35% taken?
Have you exercised regularly? Are you overweight? Are you taking appropriate meds?
The readings are only a month apart 
And nothing major changed.. excersise.. well i walk the dog but i have to admit i am 52 going on 102 at the moment and tired 24/7. Meds.. only started 2 weeks ago... so i am hoping this will change things.
I just really d9nt know what to expect or do... i suppose its something to discuss more at my next appointment with the specialist.
We had a discussion here about walking the dog a few weeks ago. The general consensus was that it is not exercise but more an amble. So possibly a bit more activity might help as would keeping within the correct weight.
The original reading could have been wrong of course as could your most recent one, they are not always that accurate. Still, if you do your best to stay as fit and healthy as you can, hopefully the figures might improve next time round.
Might be worth getting a pedometer and try to ensure you do at least 6000 steps a day with half those being at a reasonable pace, always ensuring you don't over exert yourself.
after my heart attack and stent last June my ef was 26% - considered to be severe heart failure, I am on a cocktail of medication but it has now improved to 45% - mild hf, I try to walk regularly but as yet 30 mins of quite slow is my maximum. Sadly I’ve put weight on, I am trying to lose it but not managing - I don’t think my body wants to give it up. My message is don’t give up, it can and will get better, I’m not going to lie it’s been a rough year but worth the effort and tolerating the medicines. Best wishes
Hi LeeSF, we are all different so we can only tell you what has happened to us it depends on lots of things. I have no blocked arteries or narrowing so they said it’s just my heart and had to have a pacemaker defibrillator as well as heart tablets. It was 32% with just tablets for a year and wasn’t going up so after the device it slowly went up to 45% and stable now but suffering with low blood pressure. Write down all your questions before you see them incase you forget something. Ask which part of your heart it is? Have you got ectopics? Can you feel palpitations on and off or all the time? Have you high bp or low bp. Get to know everything about your body. Eat accordingly to what you have wrong with you like I have to be careful with some foods as it can make my BLood pressure go even lower. Good luck and hope you get answers. Joy
Hello there!
First of all I’d like to say please dont be alarmed that your EF was different between the two scans you had. The EF calculation is an estimation and can change depending on what scanner was used (MRI vs Ultrasound) and other factors. Go by how you feel and don’t focus too much on the numbers.
Depending on what’s causing your reduced heart function, medication will increase it to some degree. You will need to find the optimal combination of drugs for you. You may also benefit from surgeries, stents, pacemakers etc. depending on what is going on with your heart.
If you see a big improvement in your energy and exercise tolerance over the next few weeks then the meds you’ve been put on will be doing their job. If you experience a decline then get straight on to your doctor and ask for a medication review. If you feel comfortable you can share with us which medications you’ve been put on.
The other thing you might be asked to consider is whether you want an ICD implanted which will shock your heart back to life if it was to stop. A low EF can increase the risk of this happening which is probably why your doctor asked about sudden cardiac death in the family. My husband had one implanted and it took a while to get used to but now it doesn’t bother him and it gives us peace of mind.
My husbands EF was 35% after a heart attack, dropped to 14% as his medication wasn’t suiting him, he was switched from ramipril to entresto and is now back to an almost 30% EF. He feels like a different person, when he was on ramipril he could barely get dressed and it was frightening. Now he’s just getting on with life as normal as he can.
Make sure you maintain good iron and b12 levels. If you are put on a statin, it’s worth looking after your liver and looking into coenzyme q10, although please speak to your doctor before taking any supplements. Sleep plenty, exercise moderately and eat well.
Anxiety stress and depression will impact your health, some people experience all three when diagnosed with a condition like this. Talk to friends and family, seek support and avoid googling! Unless it’s practical and useful research of course. None of us know how long we’ve got and what new treatments might come out for heart patients so just forget all that and focus on what you can control, let go of everything else.
Wishing you luck with everything!
I had a similar problem EF of 30 percent a few years ago, during the worst of the Covid mess. After a year of regular exercise and a combination of Entresto and Farxiga it was up to 40 percent. Now, two years later on the same drugs and exercise routine it is a normal (for o 70 year old man) 60 percent. Not e everyone may see this kind of improvement but I have been lucky. I believe regular exercise is the key.
Can I ask, what kind of exercise did you do?
I started just walking at first. Now I go to the gym 3 days a week to walk laps in the gym (about 1/2 mile), do 20 minutes on the stationary bike and then 1/2 hour on the weight machines, both upper and lower body.
After my HA 4 years ago my EF was 20%, as far as I know it has not improved but the medications I am on must be working as I am feeling quite well. I do hope they sort out the right meds for you soon and wish you well for the future.
EF
ICD - DVLA rules says LV EF >35? 
HF r EF HF p EF 
Low EF
