echocardiogram and EF

[mimi57654]

Hello, I was told by the NP that my echocardiogram came back not normal. I asked why and she said it showed slow blood flow back to the heart. She didn't say anything about injection factor. My question is, "is slow blood flow to the heart mean the EF?" I was at the Dr. because of more scary Angina symptoms. Two days later I had a 2 day nuclear stress test and am waiting for the results. I called for results today and was told they're not done comparing them and will call me for sure with the results.   Thanks

[mimi57654]

Wow! I am speechless! I absolutely will insist for further testing. I had an episode yesterday after helping my son get the baby's crib set up. Chest pressure, high pulse and a full chest feeling but no jaw pain this time. Again chewed a couple aspirin and sipped water till all felt better. I do want a chest xray also, I have mild COPD and through all of this not one xray was taken even for the COPD diagnosis and now I'm questioning that, you would think it would have been done . I appreciate all your knowledge  and this board. Thank you again!

[ed34]

They will have to do further investigations, such as artery spasm. However, I had the same issue in 2007. I would strongly urge you to really question your Cardiologist on this. Let me tell you what my case revealed.
In 2007 I was rushed to hospital having a heart attack and they did emergency stenting to the artery responsible. During the procedure, my left artery was seen having a huge 100% blockage at the top, and the rest of the artery looked like a strand of cotton hanging down. Yet with the blockage, it should have been empty. The blood in the artery was flowing upwards, not down. Closer examination showed that tiny vessels from my right artery had opened, giving a small feed across to the left. I was getting terrible angina on exertion and they obviously knew why. I was sent for a nuclear scan to see if I had lost any heart muscle from my heart attack. The results from the scan astonished my cardiologist. According to the nuclear scan, my heart was above average. We both giggled and he said "If I had done the stress test without an angiogram, I would have sent you home thinking you had a perfect heart". If you like, you can tell your cardiologist about my case, and if he wants, I can send you my details if he wants to check all my records. My cardiologist learned a lesson that day and said he will only request nuclear scans to work alongside an angiogram.

[mimi57654]

Thank you for the reply, I understand it now. I did get the results today from the nuclear stress test and the nurse said the preliminary results are normal and to follow up with my cardiology appt. on Monday. So now could  all be well with my heart? I'm confused  by abnormal echo and normal stress test and also having episodes of chest pain that spreads to my jaw with sweating and fatigue, this has been happening about once a month for 4 months.  Thank you again for your reply.

[ed34]

Hi, I think the terminology is a little confusing here. I believe what they are saying is that the heart is taking a bit longer to fill back up than normal. This is not the EF. EF is the amount of blood 'leaving' the heart. This occurs is the systole phase, while the relaxing is the diastole phase.
I think they have done a nuclear scan to make sure you haven't had a heart attack at some time in the past, causing this. If the muscle is taking time to relax, it usually means it is stiffer through damaged heart muscle OR it could be a blockage in a coronary artery that is over 70%. If you have angina, with exertion, it is more than likely the blockage scenario.