Ejection Rate and Exercise

Hello,

I am a 43 year old male who has just been diognosed with an enlarged heart. I have a ejection fraction of 40%. the doctor put me on a 15 mg of Lotesin daily. I had a stess test on a treadmill and the results were good as far as fatigue. My question is this, should I be concerned about overexercise as in backpacking trips. Every few years I have taken a few weeks off and hiked Senic Mountgain trails and wondered if this heart condition should curtail this activity and if there is any other treatment you would reccommend. Thanks much for this Service,

Tim

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

This shouldn't put too big a cramp in your lifestyle.  You may notice you don't have quite the endurance you once had and you should be careful not to overdo it all at once.  Of course check with your doctor first.  It is also important to find out why you have the decreased EF - i.e. is it due to a heart artery blockage, valve problem or unknown.  It may be a reversible cause that could be treated with improvement of your condition.