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Ejection fraction (EF) measures how well the heart is pumping blood. An EF of 55% or higher is normal, while an EF below 40% may indicate heart failure. Other medical conditions can also affect EF, and a high EF does not necessarily mean a healthy heart.
Heart failure ejection fraction is a number used to determine how well a patient’s heart is pumping. An ejection fraction of 55 percent is an indication that the heart is working well. Patients with an ejection fraction number less than 40 may have heart failure and need medical attention to improve heart function. A doctor can order tests and suggest a course of treatment that may include lifestyle changes and medications if heart failure is confirmed.
The heart works like a pump within the body to keep organs, muscles and cells supplied with oxygenated blood. A normal heartbeat has a “ka-thump” rhythm, which means that the muscle contracts and then relaxes between beats. When the heart muscle contracts, this movement pushes blood out of the ventricles, which are the large lower chambers of this organ. The ventricles fill up with blood again as the heart relaxes.
At no point does the heartbeat completely empty the ventricles of blood. Ejection fraction refers to the amount of blood that is pumped out of the ventricles each time the heart beats. Ejection fraction for heart failure and to determine how efficiently the heart is pumping is usually measured using the left ventricle, as this is the section responsible for the heart’s primary pumping action.
Using this method of measuring heart health, heart failure ejection fraction is lower than the “normal” reading of 55 or higher. If this figure is between 40 and 55, it can be a sign that the heart muscle has been damaged and is not pumping efficiently. When the figure drops below 40, it could indicate that the individual is in heart failure
Other medical conditions that can cause the heart to pump at less than normal capacity. The ejection fraction times the heart failure number can also indicate a problem with the heart valves. Another possibility is that the heart has been affected by a disorder that affects the muscle itself and weakens it.
It is possible for a person to exceed the ejection fraction for the heart failure test and still be in heart failure. In a situation where the patient’s ventricle muscle has thickened and is no longer flexible, it may not hold as much blood as a healthy person’s heart. Less blood in the chamber means the body is not being supplied with the nutrients and oxygen it needs to stay healthy.
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