Low Ejection Fraction

[CAh6207]

Hi All

Good to be here. I am 68 and had a heart attack and cardiac arrest in October 23. At the time my EF was very low but recovered to around 42% after my stent was fitted.

In August 24 my EF was measured at 26%. That was 10 weeks ago and I'm still waiting for an appointment to discuss possibly having an ICD. I'm suffering from a lack of information as nobody has told me what I should or should not be doing as a result of my low EF. I continue to push for answers but it has been a struggle!

Can anybody enlighten me at all please? Should I be concerned about the low EF?

Many thanks in advance.

[DodgyTickerMum]

Hi, sorry to read this. Not sure if you’re on Facebook, but there is a site specifically for Heart Failure patients and their families called ‘Pumping Marvellous’. They also have a website:- pumpingmarvellous.org/

They have a wealth of info there, lots of members in a similar situation to yourself and are recommended by healthcare professionals. Hope you get some answers. Take care.

[theonethatgotaway1]

Yes that is a low EF rate. Mine was at 12% after my heart attack at 35 years old. I was super fit too.

It went back up to 44% after a year or so and it's back down to around 30-35% where it has settled. I am on task to try and improve things with healthy eating, mild exercise including walking. And medicines like entresto, dapa etc.

It's a battle. Chest pains are real every day. Weird sensations of zap pains across chest. Aniexity. Had all sorts of symptoms over the years. It's tough.

Your EF rate is in the severe category. They will look at all the treatments like the implant you mentioned which could actually turn your life around in a good way.

The reality is, that old car battery is on its way out. Heart failure is a broad title and has lots of different stages. Everyone is different. The aim is to slow the progression of the heart failure. Take all the positive steps to improve your lifestyle the best you can. Keep taking meds. Also call heart team or doctors to chase for answers. All the best

[Identiy]

I have heard of a patient going from under 20% for the EF to around 50% after 1 year following a heart attack

[JaneBrown55]

I was told EF is only part of the picture. Do you actually feel well? My EF is 36 but I feel loads better than before my heart attack when it was also 36 . I’ve had a quadruple heart bypass. I was referred for cardiac rehabilitation level 1-3 and go to slimming world. I’m now on a new cardiac rehabilitation program level 4 for 12 weeks which aims to build you up and strengthen your heart so you can cope with daily moderate exercise. So what im trying to say is to do what the books say . Healthy eating , get to a good bmi and daily exercise are key to extending your life when in heart failure . Ejection fraction readings can vary even in a day . The one you have does put you in the severe category which is why they are suggesting an implant but you can help improve it . I’m 69 and so far so good