Ejection
(Redirected from Ejecting)
Ejection Fraction is a measurement, expressed as a percentage, of how much blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction. An ejection fraction of 60 percent means that 60 percent of the total amount of blood in the left ventricle is pushed out with each heartbeat. This measurement is used by physicians to determine how well your heart is pumping out blood and to diagnose and track heart failure.
Understanding Ejection Fraction[edit | edit source]
The heart is a muscle that pumps blood to the rest of the body. The left ventricle is the heart's main pumping chamber. It pumps oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen. The ejection fraction is a measure of how well the heart is pumping blood to the body and lungs.
Normal Ejection Fraction[edit | edit source]
A normal ejection fraction is between 50 and 70 percent. This means that 50 to 70 percent of the total amount of blood in the left ventricle is pushed out with each heartbeat.
Low Ejection Fraction[edit | edit source]
A low ejection fraction (below 40 percent) may suggest a heart condition such as heart failure or cardiomyopathy. In heart failure, the heart muscle is weakened and can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. In cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle becomes thick or rigid, which can lower the ejection fraction.
High Ejection Fraction[edit | edit source]
A high ejection fraction (above 75 percent) can happen when the heart muscle has become stiff and isn't filling up with enough blood. This can occur in conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Measuring Ejection Fraction[edit | edit source]
Ejection fraction is usually measured during an echocardiogram, a type of ultrasound test for the heart. It can also be measured with a MRI scan, CT scan, or nuclear medicine scan.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for a low ejection fraction may include medications, lifestyle changes, or sometimes surgery. The goal of treatment is to improve the heart's ability to pump blood, relieve symptoms, and prolong life.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Ejection Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD