ejection fraction

Im confused. My echo test says my estimated left ventricular ejection fraction is 55% is this good or bad with pvcs? If its bad can it be due to inactivity and therefore get better?

[Jerry_NJ]

An EF of 55% is good.  I think it rarely goes higher than 65%, nobody has 100%.   I recall mine as being 60%.  I don't believe there is any direct relationship between EF and PVCs.

[is_something_wrong]

Completely normal.

It doesn't affect PVCs in any direction - not more, not less.

I think exercise can increase the EF to some degree. A high EF isn't always good, though, if it's caused by thickened heart walls. Being within normal limits is the best, and you are. Normal limits are 50-70% (50-65% measured on echocardiography and 55-70% measured on the test with radioactive material (I don't remember the name).

I think the community leader Itdood knows more about EF than I do, you should ask him directly if you need detalis (I think).

Good luck!

[kenkeith]

For some insight, the EF is the ejection fraction %  and is the amount of blood pumped into circulation with each stroke.  It is a dynamic compensating component with the heart rate and blood pressure to maintain a balance of blood flow between the left and right side of the heart.

When the left ventricle dilates it contracts with greater force (increase in EF), and if the EF is greater than 70% or so that could indicate cardiomyopathy (over compensated, enlarged left ventricle).  The phenomonon can be explained by the Frank/starling law of physics .  As a metaphor to stretch a handspring it increases with stronger recoiling until it is over stretched and it becomes flaccid...a dilated left ventricle can quickly result in a drop of the EF unless the underlying cause is treated.

Yes, you can increase your EF by aerobic exercise.  When properly conditioned your heart rate will be decreased at rest, blood pressure reduced and the EF higher.  The higher EF is more efficient (stronger contractions) and helps reduce the other components' workload.  

Thanks for sharing, and if you have any followup questions you are welcome to respond.  Take care.

[kenkeith]

QUOTE: " A high EF isn't always good, though, if it's caused by thickened heart walls"

Thickened heart walls can impede the diastole phase (filling) by being rigid and unable to relax sufficiently to adequately fill.  Also, thickened walls crowds out available chamber space.  EF is usually not effected, but cardiac output is diminished.

[jennyfi1234]

Thank everyone!

[homescoolfamily]

PVC's, sustained, may induce heart failure. If you're having PVC's, find out why. Any PVC can land on a 'q' wave and precipitate V-Fib (Ventricular Fibrillation), which is fatal. How many PVC's a day are you having? An EF of your level is not 'bad'. My guess would be that you either sedentary, or that there is a good cause for them having checked your EF and the PVC's. Despite a cardiologist calling PVC's 'benign PVC's', do NOT accept this as an answer. (NOTE: I am NOT talking the occasional PVC we all have from coffee, ok? I am talking plenty of PVC's and ANY coupling, that is where two or more come successively together.

[itdood]

Mine was 74% last time I had it measured, and that was when I was having 5,000+ PVCs per day, measured via cardiac MRI.

A reduced EF indicates that cardiomyopathy is present.   We're talking below 40%.