Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — Written by Melissa Carroll, PhD — Updated on November 9, 2021 Ejection fraction is a measurement doctors use to calculate the percentage of blood that leaves your heart each time it contracts. As your heart beats, it pumps (ejects) blood into your body from the two lower muscular chambers, known as the left and right ventricles. Between beats, when your heart relaxes, the two ventricles fill up with blood. However, it takes more than a single contraction to pump all the blood out of a ventricle. Ejection fraction is a test your doctor can use to determine the percentage of blood that leaves the left ventricle each time your heart beats, and to understand how well your heart works. Ejection fraction can help diagnose heart failure. Share on PinterestA diagram of the heart, with the left and right ventricles in the lower section of the heart. Generally, your left ventricle is the one measured for ejection fraction. It does the heavy lifting in your body, pumping blood to almost all your major organs. However, current research suggests that the right ventricle shouldn’t be ignored when determining ejection fraction of the right heart. An accurate left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) reading can be measured through a variety of imaging techniques. The most common ejection fraction testing measures include:
According to cardiology experts, LVEF results are typically classified as follows for people ages 18 and older:
An ejection fraction below 40 percent is classified as heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). It occurs when one of your heart’s chambers isn’t able to contract properly. Medications can treat it. Symptoms may include:
You may also have a greater risk of irregular heart rates that can be life threatening. If your ejection fraction is below 35 percent, your doctor will likely recommend other treatments, like an implantable cardioverter defibrillator or a pacemaker, to help regulate your heart rhythm. Heart failure with preserved left ventricular function (HFpEF)With this type of heart failure, you have a preserved, or normal, ejection fraction. It occurs when your left ventricle doesn’t relax properly. This may be due to a thickened heart muscle or heart muscle stiffness. It can lead to less blood being pumped from your heart to the rest of your body. Symptoms may include fatigue and shortness of breath during exercise. HFpEF can be the result of aging, diabetes, or high blood pressure. As we age, our hearts do too. Heart walls thicken and lose some of their capacity to contract and relax as efficiently as they should. But a low ejection fraction reading can also indicate some form of heart damage, including:
A high ejection fraction reading can indicate a heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This condition abnormally thickens parts of your heart muscle without an obvious cause. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is often genetic. It’s tough for doctors to diagnose because many people don’t have symptoms. For a small number of people, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can cause serious abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) that require treatment. If you have a family history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, let your doctor know so they can monitor you over time. There are a variety of treatment options for abnormal ejection fraction. Some of the most common treatments include:
Ejection fraction is a test your doctor can use to determine the percentage of blood that leaves a ventricle each time your heart beats, and to understand how well your heart works. A normal ejection fraction range is between 52 and 72 percent for men and between 54 and 74 percent for women. An ejection fraction that’s higher or lower may be a sign of heart failure or an underlying heart condition. In general, the outlook for people with an abnormal ejection fraction result is encouraging. In most cases, with diligent care, the right treatment and medications, and certain lifestyle changes, you can manage your symptoms and continue living a high-quality life. Last medically reviewed on November 9, 2021 |