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Heart failure - what is it? This is a pathological condition that appears in the event of a malfunction of the heart, when blood is not pumped in the proper volume. Acute heart failure can lead to death in a short period of time, as there is a high probability of dangerous complications. Chronic heart failure develops gradually and leads to prolonged “starvation” of body tissues.

Causes of the disease

Why does heart failure occur? This condition occurs due to various etiological factors. Most often, the etiology of this disease is associated with atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension. Increased pressure in the bloodstream and atherosclerotic narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels lead to the fact that it becomes difficult for the heart to push blood. The body's resources make it possible to compensate for this pathological condition - at first there are no clinical symptoms of circulatory failure due to increased heart rate and increased strength of heart contractions. When the myocardium is depleted, decompensation of the disease occurs - this is manifested by shortness of breath, edema, and decreased tolerance to physical stress. These are all symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF).

The pathogenesis of heart failure also includes diseases accompanied by direct damage to the heart. These are myocarditis, valve defects, infectious and autoimmune diseases, and intoxications. With lung diseases, increased pressure in the pulmonary circle can often occur. All these reasons lead to an increase in the load on the heart, due to which the efficiency of the organ is significantly reduced. This can also happen when there is fluid retention in the body, for example, with kidney disease.

In many cases, the causes of heart failure and the etiology of this condition are due to a previous heart attack. Most often, this leads to acute heart failure with rapid development of complications and death of the patient.

This disease is classified according to the speed of clinical development:

• acute HF – progresses in a very short period of time (several minutes – several hours). Complications of this type of disease often include pulmonary edema or cardiogenic shock. The most common causes of AHF are heart attack, valve defects (aortic and mitral), damage to the walls of the heart;
• Chronic HF – progresses over many months or years. The cause of CHF is compensated pathological conditions with damage to the heart and other organs (arterial hypertension, defects, chronic lung diseases, etc.).

Classification

There are several classification options for heart failure. Depending on the severity of the clinic, the following are distinguished:

• First degree – there are no clinical symptoms.
• In the second degree of heart failure, symptoms are mild and wheezing may be present.
• The third degree is a more pronounced clinical picture, the presence of wheezing.
• The fourth degree of severity is characterized by the presence of complications, for example, cardiogenic shock, collapse (a decrease in systolic blood pressure below 90 mm Hg).

According to the degree of patient resistance to physical stress, heart failure is divided into four functional classes (FC):

• 1 FC - shortness of breath and other symptoms appear during severe physical exertion, for example, while climbing to the third floor and above. Normal physical activity does not cause signs of the disease.
• FC 2 – moderate heart failure, it makes itself felt only after climbing two flights of stairs or while walking quickly. The patient's daily activities may be slightly reduced.

• 3 FC – the symptoms of the disease become pronounced even with minor physical exertion and during everyday activities. At rest, shortness of breath completely disappears.
• 4 FC - in this case, shortness of breath and other manifestations bother the patient at rest. The heart is under great stress, and complications of heart failure are often observed.

Types of heart failure according to its classification by stages:

• The first stage is the beginning of the disease. It is characterized by a latent course; symptoms of circulatory failure occur only in cases where the patient experiences severe physical or emotional stress. At rest, the activity of the circulatory system is not impaired.
• The second stage is marked clinical manifestations. Signs of prolonged blood stagnation appear, this is noticeable in the absence of physical activity. Stagnation appears in the systemic and pulmonary circulation, which is primarily manifested by edema. This stage is divided into IIA and IIB. The first is characterized by dysfunction of only the left or right ventricle. In this case, shortness of breath appears during normal physical activity for a person, and his activity is noticeably reduced. Externally, the patient has blue skin, swelling of the legs, enlarged liver and hard breathing. Stage IIB is characterized by a deeper degree of hemodynamic disturbances, the cause of which is stagnation in both circulation circles.
• The third stage of the disease is terminal. In this case, the heart ceases to cope with its function, which leads to irreversible damage to the structure of internal organs and depletion of their resources.

Signs and symptoms of the disease

Clinical symptoms of heart failure are the same for both acute and chronic variants of this pathology. The difference lies in the speed of development of disease manifestations and the body’s ability to adapt to changes in hemodynamics. Therefore, in case of acute circulatory failure, full compensation does not occur, as a result of which the terminal stage quickly occurs and the risk of death increases. The chronic version of the disease may not manifest itself for a long time, and therefore diagnosis and treatment are often delayed.

How to recognize heart failure? The clinical picture consists of symptoms associated with stagnation of blood in the vessels due to the inability of the heart muscle to fully perform its function. As a result, swelling appears in the lower extremities and stagnation in the pulmonary circulation, which causes wheezing. The patient loses the ability to adequately cope with physical and emotional stress, so efforts of normal intensity often lead to shortness of breath.

Stagnation of blood leads to disruption of oxygen transport into tissues - hypoxia develops, metabolism changes, and cyanosis (cyanosis) of the skin of the extremities and nasolabial triangle appears.

Headache. This symptom is not typical for heart failure. Loss of consciousness, dizziness, and darkening of the eyes are more likely.

Nausea and vomiting. Such manifestations of heart failure are also not typical for this disease. However, in rare cases, they may indicate the development of metabolic disorders.

Drowsiness. Decreased performance, fatigue and drowsiness may be a consequence of circulatory failure, which leads to decreased oxygen saturation of tissues.

Heart failure in newborns and adolescents

This disease in children and newborns is quite difficult to diagnose, as it often resembles the manifestations of other pathologies. The cause of heart failure at an early age is usually associated with congenital diseases:

• heart defects;
• CNS lesions;
• glycogen disease, cardiac form;
• endocardial fibroelastosis.

It is also worth taking into account that this condition can occur with infectious diseases caused by viruses or bacteria.

There are no significant differences in how heart failure manifests itself in children. Typically, symptoms include shortness of breath, swelling, and increased heart rate. The main changes in the internal organs are the liver enlarges, the boundaries of the heart expand.

Heart failure in adolescents occurs when they have a cardiac defect. The signs of heart failure in adolescents are no different from those in children and adults, which helps establish the diagnosis.

Methods for diagnosing heart failure

Heart failure syndrome is a secondary disease that occurs against the background of other pathologies. In this regard, examination and diagnostic measures should be aimed primarily at identifying the cause of this condition. Early diagnosis of circulatory failure, when there are no pronounced clinical symptoms, is important.

For those patients who have been diagnosed with a heart attack and other myocardial diseases, arterial hypertension, it is important to pay attention to the presence of such a symptom as shortness of breath that occurs during physical exertion. Other characteristic signs that make it possible to suspect the presence of heart failure are swelling in the lower extremities, expansion of the borders of the heart to the left side.

The pulse in patients with circulatory failure is usually low-amplitude. An increase in heart rate is also typical.

Clinical blood tests for heart failure are nonspecific or reflect changes caused by primary pathology. More specific are blood gas and electrolyte tests. It is also important to determine blood pH, creatinine, urea and protein metabolism levels in a biochemical analysis. It is possible to determine the level of cardiac-specific enzymes, which can increase both in heart failure and in myocardial ischemia.

Diagnosis of heart failure is largely determined by the indications of instrumental research methods. According to ECG data, signs of myocardial hypertrophy are determined, which develops in response to increased load on the heart muscle. You can also detect rhythm disturbances or signs of ischemia of the heart muscle tissue.

There are special stress tests, which involve taking an ECG with physical activity. This is possible by using an exercise bike or treadmill. The load is gradually increased, thanks to which it is possible to determine the functional class of HF and the presence of signs of myocardial ischemia.

Echocardiography makes it possible to both determine heart failure and visualize the structure of the heart to determine the cause of its dysfunction. At the same time, echocardiography evaluates the functional state of the heart, for example, ejection fraction and other indicators of pumping function. MRI makes it possible to determine the presence of defects of this organ. X-ray of the lungs and chest organs shows the presence of stagnation in the pulmonary circulation.

To determine the extent of damage to other internal organs in severe circulatory failure, an abdominal ultrasound is performed. It shows changes in the spleen, liver, pancreas and other organs.

Methods of treating the disease

Treatment of heart failure involves conservative therapy. It includes the following areas:

• reduction of clinical manifestations of circulatory failure. For this purpose, cardiac glycosides are prescribed - for AHF, intravenous fast-acting drugs are used, for CHF, long-acting drugs are used;
• reducing the load on the myocardium - this is achieved by using beta-blockers, which lower blood pressure and slow down the pulse;
• prescribing diuretics to reduce the total amount of fluid in the body.

It is worth noting that it is impossible to cure heart failure, you can only reduce its symptoms and signs. The best results are obtained from treatment of first-degree heart failure. A patient who has taken all recommended medications in this case may not notice any improvement in his condition.

If the patient has a history of arrhythmia, which may have caused the development of myocardial failure, then surgical treatment is possible. It consists of implanting an artificial pacemaker. Surgical treatment is also indicated in those cases. When there is a significant narrowing of the lumen of the arteries due to atherosclerosis, when there is pathology of the valves.

What is the danger of heart failure, consequences and complications?

Circulatory failure is progressive in nature, as a result of which, in the absence of proper treatment for this condition, the patient’s condition worsens over time, the degree of hemodynamic disorders increases, which often leads to death.

Frequent consequences of heart failure occur due to pulmonary edema, when there is stagnation in the pulmonary vessels, the liquid part of the blood penetrates into the tissues of this organ. Because of this, the ability of the lungs to saturate the blood with oxygen sharply decreases, and hypoxia develops.

With circulatory failure, signs of cerebral ischemia may appear, which is manifested by fainting, dizziness, and darkening of the eyes.

Heart failure of the 1st degree usually least often leads to serious consequences.

Disease prevention

Prevention of heart failure is based on the treatment of diseases, the development of which leads to circulatory failure - hypertension, valve defects, etc. On the other hand, it is important to adjust the patient’s lifestyle in order to reduce the number of risk factors.

If heart function is already impaired, then prevention of heart failure should be aimed at maintaining an optimal level of daily physical activity, constant monitoring by a cardiologist, and taking prescribed medications.

What to do in case of heart failure to increase the body's chances of recovery? In addition to taking medications, correction of the patient’s lifestyle plays an important role in the treatment of circulatory failure. In order for treatment to be effective, people with this disease must reduce their body weight to normal values, since excess weight is one of the most common causative factors of hypertension.

Patients with this pathology are advised to adhere to a diet. It consists primarily of limiting salt intake. Patients with heart failure should completely avoid this flavor enhancer, since salt reduces the excretion of fluid from the body, which leads to increased stress on the myocardium.

If the patient smokes or drinks alcohol, then these habits will have to be completely abandoned.

It is also necessary to exercise regularly. Depending on the severity of the disease, the permissible amount of stress also changes. For example, with functional class III, regular walking for about 40 minutes is sufficient, and for milder cases of circulatory failure, it is possible to add special exercises. Physical therapy is prescribed by the attending physician, so you should not increase the daily volume of physical exercise on your own without knowing the full picture of the disease. At the same time, the symptoms and treatment of severe heart failure do not allow the patient to carry out this method of rehabilitation.

Post-infarction cardiosclerosis and its treatment

• Causes
• Diagnostics
• Symptoms
• Treatment methods
• Forecast

Myocardial infarction is the most serious manifestation of coronary heart disease. In this case, the tissues supplied by the affected artery cease to receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients. First, the cells experience ischemia and their metabolism switches to glycolysis, so toxic metabolic products accumulate. If blood flow is not restored, the cells finally die and necrosis develops.

This area is especially vulnerable to mechanical stress, which can cause cardiac rupture. To strengthen it, the damaged tissue gradually grows with strong connective tissue fibers and a scar is formed. It usually takes about four weeks for complete healing. That is why the diagnosis of myocardial infarction exists only for the first month, and then it transforms into post-infarction cardiosclerosis (PICS).

Causes

The main cause of PICS is myocardial infarction.
However, in some cases, against the background of coronary heart disease, muscle tissue is gradually replaced by connective tissue, which causes diffuse cardiosclerosis. Often this fact is discovered only at autopsy.

Other diseases of the cardiovascular system (myocarditis, dystrophic processes, injuries of coronary vessels) can also lead to the development of cardiosclerosis, but this happens much less frequently.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of post-infarction cardiosclerosis is made on the basis of anamnesis, examination data and objective studies. Among the latter, cardiac ultrasound (ECHO-CG) is of greatest importance. It allows you to determine the size of the chambers, wall thickness, the presence of an aneurysm and the percentage of affected areas that are not involved in contraction. In addition, using special calculations, it is possible to determine the ejection fraction of the left ventricle, which is a very important indicator and affects the treatment and prognosis of the disease.

An ECG can record signs of a previous myocardial infarction, a formed aneurysm, as well as various rhythm and conduction disturbances. This method is also diagnostically significant.

An X-ray of the chest organs may suggest enlargement of the left chambers of the heart, but the information content of this method is quite low. The same cannot be said about positron emission tomography. The study is carried out after the administration of a radioisotope drug, recording gamma radiation at rest and during exercise. In this case, it is possible to assess the level of metabolism and perfusion, which indicate the viability of the myocardium.

To determine the extent of the atherosclerotic process, angiography of the coronary arteries is performed. It is performed by injecting an X-ray contrast agent directly into the area of ​​the suspected lesion. If you fill the left ventricle with the drug, you can take ventriculography, which allows you to more accurately calculate the ejection fraction and the percentage of scar tissue.

Symptoms

Signs of PICS are determined by the location of the scar tissue and the area of ​​myocardial damage. The main symptom of this disease is heart failure, which develops in most cases of cardiosclerosis. Depending on which part of the heart the infarction occurred, it can be right ventricular or left ventricular.

In case of dysfunction of the right departments, the following develops:

• peripheral edema;
• signs of impaired microcirculation (acrocyanosis), limbs become purple-blue due to lack of oxygen;
• accumulation of fluid in the abdominal, pleural, pericardial cavities;
• enlarged liver, accompanied by painful sensations in the right hypochondrium;
• swelling and pathological pulsation of the neck veins.

Even with microfoci of cardiosclerosis, electrical instability of the myocardium appears, which is accompanied by various arrhythmias, including ventricular ones. They are the main cause of death for the patient.

Left ventricular failure is characterized by:

• shortness of breath, worsening in a horizontal position;
• the appearance of foamy sputum and streaks of blood;
• increasing cough due to swelling of the bronchial mucosa;
• decreased tolerance to physical activity.

If the contractility of the heart is impaired, the patient often wakes up at night from an attack of cardiac asthma, which passes within a few minutes after assuming a vertical position of the body.

If, against the background of post-infarction cardiosclerosis, an aneurysm has formed (thinning of the wall), then the risk of blood clots in its cavity and the development of thromboembolism of the vessels of the brain or lower extremities increases. If there is a congenital defect in the heart (patent foramen ovale), the embolus can enter the pulmonary artery. An aneurysm is also prone to rupture, but this usually occurs in the first month of myocardial infarction, when cardiosclerosis itself has not yet formed.

Treatment methods

Treatment of post-infarction cardiosclerosis is usually aimed at eliminating its manifestations (heart failure and arrhythmias), since it is not possible to restore the function of the affected myocardium. It is very important to prevent the so-called remodeling (restructuring) of the myocardium, which often accompanies coronary heart disease.

Patients with PICS are typically prescribed the following classes of medications:

• ACE inhibitors (enalapril, captopril, lisinopril) reduce blood pressure if it increases and prevent the heart from enlarging and stretching its chambers.
• Beta blockers (concor, egilok) reduce the heart rate, thereby increasing the ejection fraction. They also serve as antiarrhythmic drugs.
• Diuretics (Lasix, hypothiazide, indapamide) remove accumulated fluid and reduce signs of heart failure.
• Veroshpiron is a diuretic, but its mechanism of action in PICS is somewhat different. By acting on aldosterone receptors, it reduces the processes of myocardial restructuring and stretching of the cavities of the heart.
• To improve metabolic processes, Mexicor, Riboxin and ATP help well.
• Classic medications for the treatment of coronary artery disease (aspirin, nitroglycerin, etc.).

It is also necessary to change your lifestyle and adhere to a healthy diet and a salt-free diet.

In this case, coronary artery bypass grafting is performed with simultaneous resection of the thinned wall. The operation is performed under general anesthesia using a heart-lung machine.

In some cases, minimally invasive techniques (coronary angiography, balloon angioplasty, stenting) are used to restore the patency of the coronary arteries.

Forecast

The prognosis for post-infarction cardiosclerosis depends on the area of ​​myocardial damage and the severity of heart failure. With the development of signs of left ventricular dysfunction and a decrease in ejection fraction below 20%, the patient’s quality of life decreases significantly. In this case, drug therapy can only slightly improve the situation, but without a heart transplant, survival does not exceed five years.

Post-infarction cardiosclerosis is a disease associated with cicatricial changes in the heart muscle against the background of its ischemia and necrosis. The affected area is completely excluded from work, so heart failure develops. Its severity depends on the number of altered segments and the specific location (right or left ventricle). Treatment measures are aimed at eliminating symptoms, preventing myocardial remodeling, and also preventing recurrence of infarction.

Features of stage 1 hypertension: its symptoms and treatment

1. Symptoms of stage 1 hypertension
2. Risks 1, 2, 3 and 4
3. Causes of stage 1 hypertension
4. Diagnostics
5. Diet for stage 1 hypertension
6. Drugs for stage 1 hypertension
7. Are they allowed into the army with stage 1 hypertension?

High blood pressure often occurs in old age in both sexes, which leads to a disease of the cardiovascular system called hypertension. Normal blood pressure (BP) occurs during contraction of the heart, more precisely its left ventricle, blood from it enters the aorta, and then moves through smaller arteries. The level of pressure is affected by the magnitude of the tension, the volume of blood in small arteries and their tone.

It also has another name – arterial hypertension. Its presence can be confirmed or refuted by tests and diagnostics of the body under the supervision of a doctor. An increase in pressure can be indicated by three consecutive control measurements, which are carried out using a tonometer.

Normal blood pressure can change its value up or down, depending on the person’s condition, especially when it is affected by stressful situations and an unhealthy lifestyle. In normal life, it rises during physical activity, and during sleep it decreases, but during the day it returns to normal.

Its indicators should range from 100-140 to 60-90. If the blood pressure value exceeds the norm, this indicates that the person suffers from hypertension.

A systematic increase in blood pressure is classified as stage 1 hypertension. This is the mildest form, with no serious effect on the internal organs (heart, blood vessels and kidneys). The second degree is much more difficult, and the third is the most severe, with the destruction of vital organs.

The first degree of the disease can be treated if you consult a specialist in time and take the necessary tests. The prerequisites for its diagnosis are the condition of the patient, who can feel the deviations described below in the body.

Symptoms of stage 1 hypertension

With it, the pressure increases periodically and returns to normal on its own. The attack is accompanied by:

• Blurred vision;
• Brief dizziness;
• Headache in the back of the head;
• Quiet noise in the ears;
• Increased heart rate;
• Loss of strength;
• Heaviness in the limbs;
• Increased sweating;
• Swelling of the hands and feet;
• Memory impairment.

If such symptoms begin to appear with enviable regularity, then you need to immediately begin systematically measuring your blood pressure, twice a day. The first time in the morning, without even getting out of bed, in the evening, put the tonometer next to you, and upon waking up immediately take its measurements.

The second measurement should be taken during the day from 16 to 17 hours. If your blood pressure is constantly high throughout the week, you should consult a specialist.

This disease is insidious in that at the initial stage it occurs practically without any obvious symptoms. This leads to the fact that people seek medical help late and have to treat it in an advanced form.

Meanwhile she cites:

• Heart failure, which is expressed in edema and tachycardia, causes shortness of breath.
• Failures in the functioning of the kidneys, which do not have time to process the products that enter them and accumulate liquid, which is why problems with urination occur. In advanced forms, this is expressed in intoxication of the body with products formed after the breakdown of urea.
• Changes in the condition of blood vessels, accompanied by unbearable and constant headaches.

Risks 1, 2, 3 and 4

In addition to monitoring blood pressure, there is another important factor, by accurately determining the indications of which it is possible to formulate the correct treatment for the patient, and it is called risk. Its value is the sum of blood pressure readings, as well as aggravating factors, such as:

• Bad habits;
• Excess weight;
• Glucose level;
• Heredity;
• Age;
• Blood cholesterol level;
• Concomitant diseases.

Risks come in four degrees; they are diagnosed when there is a certain percentage of the likelihood of complications affecting the blood vessels and heart.

For stage 1 hypertension, symptoms and treatment in most cases correspond to risks 1 and 2. Subsequent levels of risk come with aggravating factors that are rarely encountered at the initial stage. If a patient with hypertension drinks alcohol excessively, it complicates the course of the disease.

Causes of stage 1 hypertension

Pathological abnormalities in the activity of the heart can be caused by various factors and their dangerous combination. The reasons that caused pressure surges are considered:

• Bad habits. Smoking causes blood vessels to narrow. Poor nutrition.
• Physical passivity or, conversely, excessive stress.
• Age: for women (over 50 years), for men (over 65 years). Although recently there has been a significant “rejuvenation” of this disease.
• Hereditary predisposition. The more relatives who suffer from this disease, the greater the likelihood of its occurrence.
• Pregnancy. During this wonderful time, the mother experiences excessive physical exertion, hormonal disruption and changes in the body, and cases of nervous breakdowns are not uncommon. A mixture of such dangerous factors is expressed in increased blood pressure.
• Taking medications that cause side effects such as increased blood pressure. These could be dietary supplements or oral contraceptives.
• Stress and constant psychological worries lead to heartbeat irregularities, during which adrenaline is released, which constricts blood vessels.
• The presence of the following diseases: diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis (formation of plaques on the inside of blood vessels), kidney and hypothalamic disease, pyelonephritis.
• Deviation in the functioning of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands.
• Abrupt change in climatic conditions.
• Excess salt. An ordinary food product, without which not a single dish is complete, can, if in excess, cause a spasm of the arteries and cause the accumulation of fluid in the body.
• Chronic fatigue and lack of sleep.

All these reasons can provoke the appearance of arterial hypertension of the 1st degree.

Diagnostics

People who have already experienced high blood pressure need to undergo an annual examination, the same applies to those who first discovered signs of hypertension. To confirm the diagnosis previously made by a doctor, you need to undergo a hardware examination.

In addition to these studies, you need to visit an ophthalmologist to check the fundus. The eyes, like the heart, are most often affected by hypertension. The expansion of the veins located in the retina of the eye can be irreversible; this change must be stopped if the vessels are identified in time and return to normal.

When the question arises whether stage 1 hypertension can be cured, the answer is affirmative if all the necessary studies have been completed and tests taken, which include:

• Urine tests;
• General and biochemical blood test;
• Hormone tests for women.

As a result of the first two analyzes it is estimated:

• Metabolism of carbohydrates and glucose levels;
• Kidney function based on the presence of uric acid and creatinine;
• Electrolytic metabolism: sodium, potassium, phosphate and calcium;
• Fat deposits: the presence of cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL;
• The degree of damage to the heart and kidneys;
• Condition of the walls of blood vessels.

Hormonal examinations are used only for the weaker half of humanity; to conduct them, blood is taken from a vein on certain days of the menstrual cycle:

• Prolactin and LH on days 3-5;
• Progesterone and estradiol on day 20 of the cycle;
• Testosterone, androstenedione, 17-OH progesterone on days 7-10.

These tests are necessary to establish a complete picture of the course of the disease and prescribe effective treatment for stage 1 hypertension. Basically, everyone starts taking medications that lower blood pressure, but they do not eliminate the causes of the disease; for this, the doctor must prescribe complex therapy.

When the results of tests and studies confirm the presence of hypertension, the question of how to treat stage 1 hypertension is immediately considered.

The doctor will advise you to change your lifestyle and introduce more rest into it, try to avoid stressful situations, supplement your day with physical exercise and walking, and start eating right.

Diet for stage 1 hypertension

You need to reconsider your diet and, if possible, try not to consume salt, replacing it with other products, such as vinegar or citric acid, but within reasonable limits. Diet is very important for high blood pressure; properly selected foods can help blood vessels; the main emphasis should be plant foods.

List of foods that reduce blood pressure:

1. Green tea and hibiscus.
2. Melon crops - melons and watermelons. They are known for their diuretic properties.
3. Dairy products, their main component is calcium, which actively lowers blood pressure. It is also found in almonds and green vegetables.
4. Products containing magnesium: cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat and wheat), walnuts, beans, beets, black currants and carrots.
5. Acidic foods: grapefruit, celery, viburnum, chokeberry, quince and cranberry.
6. Foods rich in calcium include oranges, tuna, tomatoes, dried apricots, zucchini and bananas.
7. Foods that can thin the blood – garlic.

It is worth reducing and over time completely eliminating the following products:

• Smoked, spicy and salty dishes;
• Products high in caffeine;
• Fatty fish and ice cream;
• Products with a high starch content: semolina, potatoes, white flour baked goods and corn;
• Confectionery with butter cream;
• By-products;
• Hot and specific spices.

If you adhere to such a diet, you can not only help your blood vessels return to normal, but also lose significant weight without exhausting yourself with endless diets on one product. The main feature of the treatment is to gradually give up foods from the “black” list so that the body can adapt to their absence.

When physical exercise and diet do not completely cope with the disease, it is necessary to supplement treatment for stage 1 hypertension with medications. But they must be prescribed by a doctor; under no circumstances should you self-medicate.

Drugs for stage 1 hypertension

The standard approach to drug treatment is to prescribe the following medications:

• Neurotropic agents that relieve stress and calm. These include: antidepressants (amitriptyline), tranquilizers (diazepam and trioxazine) and sedatives (valerian and bromine-based drugs).
• Diuretics, these tablets for stage 1 hypertension help remove salts and excess water from the body. The following are considered effective: furosemide, Lasix, hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride.
• Vasodilator drugs: vasonit, molsidomine or apressin.

The choice of medications and their dosage are completely prescribed by the doctor.

Stage 1 hypertension occurs with a slight increase in pressure, but despite this, it can cause serious complications:

• On the kidneys. Sclerosis of tissues and blood vessels occurs in them. Their activity and the function of urea distillation are disrupted, and protein appears in the urine. The next stage will be kidney failure.
• On the brain. Thrombosis appears in its vessels, the vessels are disrupted, which first lead to small infarctions occurring in the deep parts of the brain. Fluctuating blood pressure can lead to stroke and heart attack. Due to the disruption of blood supply, the brain begins to decrease in size and can cause dementia.
• On vessels. They are located throughout the body, and the disease can affect completely different places. If this touches the retina of the eyes, it will result in loss of vision.
• On the heart. With hypertension, the load falls on the left ventricle of the heart, its muscle increases and leads to myocardial infarction. This condition also threatens the development of angina pectoris and even death.

Some of the above complications entail loss of performance and disability, which once again proves that it is better to treat the disease at its very beginning.

Are they allowed into the army with stage 1 hypertension?

In peacetime, conscripts with such a diagnosis, after confirming it by appropriate examinations, may not be recognized as fit for military service. This is stipulated in Article 43 on the schedule of illnesses.

To obtain an exemption, blood pressure readings must be within the limits indicated in the article, that is, 140/90 and above.

If you have a predisposition to hypertension, then it is better to prevent it than to then spend a lot of effort and money on treatment, the following actions will help:

• Regular exercise or walking;
• Controlling your weight;
• To give up smoking;
• Undergo periodic blood sugar checks;
• Measure blood pressure regularly;
• After a busy day, take a break;
• Sleep at least 8 hours a day;
• Do an ECG of the heart.

It is quite possible to cure stage 1 hypertension if desired. An integrated approach to treatment will not only relieve further suffering from the complications of this disease, but will also prolong life.

The normal cardiac ejection fraction is different for each person. This value shows how much blood leaves the ventricles of the heart into the lumen of the blood vessels (aorta and pulmonary artery). The cardiac ejection fraction is calculated separately for the right and left ventricles. Greater information is provided by the left ventricular ejection fraction, since it is responsible for saturating all tissues and organs with nutrients and oxygen.

Calculation methods

To calculate left ventricular ejection fraction, it is important to know the volume of blood that exits into the aorta and the amount of blood that is in the left ventricle during its diastole (end-diastolic volume). The indicator value is expressed as a percentage.

Using the data obtained, the doctor analyzes the state of the myocardium and its contractility. Based on this indicator, the specialist decides on the prescription of cardiac medications and determines the prognosis for patients with heart failure. The closer to normal the LVEF value is, the greater the patient’s chances for a full life and a favorable prognosis. This means that his heart contracts fully, providing the body with blood in full.

There are 2 ways to calculate the indicator: using the Teicholz or Simpson formula. These techniques are automated. The value is calculated taking into account the final systolic and diastolic volumes of the left ventricle and its dimensions. Simpson's method is more often used because it is more accurate. With this method of calculation, almost all significant areas of the myocardium are included in the study slice.

Normal values ​​vary from person to person. This is due to the use of different equipment and methods for calculating the fraction. On average, the normal ejection fraction is 50-60% (according to the Simpson formula, the lower limit of normal is 45%, and according to the Teicholz formula - 55%). It is this part of the blood that can adequately provide blood supply to the organs and systems of the body.

When the emission value is 35-45%, the doctor diagnoses “advanced form of deficiency.” Lower values ​​of the indicator are life-threatening.

In newborns, EF is 60-80%, gradually reaching normal standards.

Some individuals may experience an increase in fraction values ​​(80% or higher). Often we are talking about healthy people without any cardiac pathology or athletes with a trained heart. In such people, the heart contracts with great force, therefore expelling more blood into the aorta.

VWF can sometimes manifest itself in a pathological aspect. This condition can be observed with hypertrophic changes in the myocardium (with hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). This manifestation of cardiac work indicates compensated cardiac activity. As EF deficiency progresses, it may decrease, which indicates a poor prognosis of the disease. Such a study is very important for patients with CHF, because it helps to monitor the condition of their heart and blood vessels.

Why is the value dropping?

A decrease in systolic work of the heart is a consequence of chronic heart failure. This disease develops due to:

1. 1. Coronary heart disease. At the same time, blood flow to the heart muscle through the arteries of the heart sharply decreases.
2. 2. Myocardial infarction (especially large-focal, transmural, repeated). After a heart attack, some of the normal muscle cells of the heart are replaced by scars that are unable to contract. Cardiosclerosis develops in a similar way after a heart attack. These areas remain intact.
3. 3. Disorders of cardiac rhythm and conduction, which persist for a long time and often recur. Due to such irregular, irregular contractions, the heart muscle wears out quite quickly.
4. 4. Cardiomyopathies. These are specific disorders of the structure of the heart. They occur due to enlargement or stretching of the heart muscle. The pathology is often caused by hormonal imbalance, prolonged hypertension, heart defects, and chronic infection in the body.

In 8 out of 10 cases, cardiac output drops sharply after myocardial infarction, which is accompanied by a decrease in left ventricular contractility.

Symptoms of the disease

A decrease in the contractility of the heart is caused by heart failure. In this case, the following symptoms are observed:

• development of shortness of breath at rest, during physical exertion, while lying down (especially during night sleep);
• a gradual decrease in the intensity of the load to cause shortness of breath (in severe cases, the simplest manipulations - cooking, walking around the room can provoke attacks);
• general weakness, malaise, fatigue, dizziness, possible episodes of loss of consciousness;
• swelling of the body, face, legs and feet, development of anasarca (fluid accumulation in internal organs and cavities);
• pain in the right half of the abdomen, an increase in its volume.

Without proper, adequate and timely treatment, disturbances in the systolic functioning of the heart progresses, increases and can disrupt the normal existence of a person. A decrease in heart performance is a consequence of the disease. Therefore, before therapy, it is important to determine the cause of the pathology.

For example, in case of ischemic heart disease, Nitroglycerin is prescribed, the defects are removed surgically, and hypertension is controlled by taking antihypertensive drugs. The patient must clearly understand that a violation of the pumping function of the heart indicates a deterioration in his condition, the development of heart failure, which has dangerous consequences and complications.

A simple online calculator designed to calculate the ejection fraction of the heart (left ventricle). Ejection fraction is an indicator that determines the efficiency of the muscles of the heart organ at the moment of impact. The left ventricular ejection fraction is calculated to analyze the state of the myocardium and its contractility, and determine the prognosis for patients with heart failure. EF is measured as a percentage of the stroke volume of blood to the volume of blood in the left ventricle at the time of its relaxation (diastole). Stroke volume is the volume of blood ejected into the aorta, that is, the amount of blood pumped by the heart in one minute. And when the ventricle is relaxed, it contains blood from the left atrium (end-diastolic volume - EDV).

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Calculator

Stroke volume

End diastolic volume

Ejection fraction

14

9

Formula:

FV = (UO/KDO)*100,

• FV– Ejection fraction
• UO– Stroke volume
• KDO— End-diastolic volume

Example:

The patient's stroke volume is 120 ml, and the end-diastolic volume is 150 ml; let's calculate the ejection fraction.

Solution:

FV= (UO/KDO)*100
= (120/150)*100
= 0,8*100
=80%

The normal ejection fraction varies from person to person, but on average this figure is normally 50-60%. It is this part of the blood that can adequately provide blood supply to the organs and systems of the body.

An outlier value of 35-45% indicates a diagnosis of “advanced form of failure.” Lower values ​​of the indicator are life-threatening.

Some people experience an increase in fraction values ​​(80% or higher). This means that the heart contracts with great force, therefore expelling more blood into the aorta. Most often we are talking about healthy people without any cardiac pathology or athletes with a trained heart.

Ejection fraction is also measured using echocardiograms, CT scans, MRI, and cardiac catheterization.

EchoCG is used to identify changes in the structure of cardiac muscle tissue, dystrophic processes, malformations and diseases of this organ.

A similar study is carried out on pregnant women if there is a suspicion of pathology of fetal development, signs of developmental delay, the presence of epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, or endocrine disorders in the woman.

Indications for echocardiography may include symptoms of heart defects, suspected myocardial infarction, aortic aneurysm, inflammatory diseases, neoplasms of any etiology.

An ultrasound of the heart must be performed if the following symptoms are observed:

• chest pain;
• weakness during physical activity and regardless of it;
• cardiopalmus:
• interruptions in heart rhythm;
• swelling of the arms and legs;
• complications after influenza, ARVI, sore throat, rheumatism;
• arterial hypertension.

The examination can be done at the direction of a cardiologist or at your own request. There are no contraindications to its implementation. There is no special preparation for a cardiac ultrasound; it is enough to calm down and try to maintain a balanced state.

During the study, the specialist evaluates the following parameters:

• the state of the myocardium in the phase of systole and diastole (contraction and relaxation);
• the size of the heart chambers, their structure and wall thickness;
• the condition of the pericardium and the presence of exudate in the cardiac sac;
• functioning and structure of arterial and venous valves;
• the presence of blood clots, neoplasms;
• the presence of consequences of infectious diseases, inflammation, heart murmurs.

The results are most often processed using a computer program.

More details about this research methodology are described in this video:

Normal values ​​in adults and newborns

It is impossible to determine uniform standards for the normal state of the heart muscle for men and women, for adults and children of different ages, for young and elderly patients. The figures below are average values ​​and there may be slight differences in each case.

The aortic valve in adults should open 1.5 centimeters or more, the opening area of ​​the mitral valve in adults is 4 sq. cm. The volume of exudate (liquid) in the heart sac should not exceed 30 sq. ml.

Deviations from the norm and principles for interpreting results

As a result of echocardiography, the following pathologies of the development and functioning of the heart muscle and accompanying diseases can be detected:

• heart failure;
• slowing, accelerating or interrupting heart rhythm (tachycardia, bradycardia);
• pre-infarction condition, post-infarction;
• arterial hypertension;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• inflammatory diseases: cardiac myocarditis, endocarditis, exudative or constrictive pericarditis;
• cardiomyopathy;
• signs of angina pectoris;
• heart defects.

The examination protocol is filled out by a specialist performing cardiac ultrasound. The parameters of the functioning of the heart muscle in this document are indicated in two values ​​- the norm and the indicators of the subject. The protocol may contain abbreviations that are incomprehensible to the patient:

• LVMM – left ventricular mass;
• LVMI – mass index;
• EDD – end diastolic size;
• DO – long axis;
• KO – short axis;
• LA – left atrium;
• RA – right atrium;
• EF – ejection fraction;
• MK – mitral valve;
• AK – aortic valve;
• DM – myocardial movement;
• DR – diastolic size;
• SV – stroke volume (the amount of blood that is ejected by the left ventricle in one contraction;
• ТМВПд – thickness of the myocardium of the interventricular septum in the diastole phase;
• TMMVPs – the same, in the systole phase.

Dangerous diagnoses when additional research and treatment are required

The structural features of the heart, the thickness of its walls, functioning features, and the condition of the valves, reflected in the heart ultrasound protocol, help make the correct diagnosis. Based on the results of EchoCG, the cardiologist may suggest additional laboratory and instrumental examinations and prescribe treatment.

Ultrasound results of the heart muscle that require further diagnostics:

To make a more precise diagnosis, the cardiologist will collect anamnesis, prescribe additional examination and optimal treatment for each specific case.

What does normal, low and increased cardiac ejection fraction mean?

Before diagnosing a patient with chronic heart failure, the doctor conducts diagnostics with the obligatory determination of such an indicator as the ejection fraction. It reflects the amount of blood that the left ventricle pushes into the lumen of the aorta at the time of its contraction. That is, through such a study it is possible to find out whether the heart is effectively coping with its work or whether there is a need to prescribe cardiac medications.

• Norm of PV indicator
• Reasons for decreased EF
• Symptoms of the disease
• Treatment
• Prevention

Norm of PV indicator

To assess the work of the heart, namely the left ventricle, the Teicholtz or Simpson formulas are used. It must be said that it is from this section that blood enters the general circulation and in case of left ventricular failure, the clinical picture of heart failure most often develops.

The closer this indicator is to the norm, the better the main “motor” of the body contracts and the more favorable the prediction for life and health. If the obtained value is much less than normal, then we can conclude that the internal organs do not receive the required amount of oxygen and nutrients from the blood, which means the heart muscle needs to be supported somehow.

The calculation is made directly on the equipment on which the patient is examined. In modern ultrasound diagnostic rooms, preference is given to the Simpson method, which is considered more accurate, although the Teicholz formula is used no less often. The results of both methods may differ by up to 10%.

Ideally, the ejection fraction should be 50–60%. According to Simpson, the lower limit is 45%, and according to Teicholz - 55%. Both methods are distinguished by a fairly high level of information content regarding the ability of the myocardium to contract. If the obtained value fluctuates between 35–40%, they speak of advanced heart failure. And even lower rates are fraught with deadly consequences.

Reasons for decreased EF

Low values ​​can be caused by pathologies such as:

1. Cardiac ischemia. At the same time, blood flow through the coronary arteries decreases.
2. History of myocardial infarction. This leads to the replacement of normal heart muscles with scars that do not have the necessary ability to contract.
3. Arrhythmia, tachycardia and other ailments that disrupt the rhythm of the body’s main “motor” and conductivity.
4. Cardiomyopathy. It consists of enlarging or lengthening the heart muscle, which is caused by hormonal imbalance, prolonged hypertension, and heart defects.

Symptoms of the disease

The diagnosis of “reduced ejection fraction” can be made based on symptoms characteristic of this disease. Such patients often complain of attacks of shortness of breath, both during physical exertion and at rest. Shortness of breath attacks can be triggered by long walking, as well as doing simple housework: washing floors, cooking.

In the process of disruption of blood circulation, fluid retention occurs, which leads to the appearance of edema, and in severe cases it affects internal organs and tissues. A person begins to suffer from abdominal pain on the right side, and stagnation of venous blood in the vessels of the liver can be fraught with cirrhosis.

These symptoms are characteristic of a decrease in the contractile function of the main “motor” of the body, but it often happens that the level of ejection fraction remains normal, so it is very important to be examined and have an echocardioscopy at least once a year, especially for people with heart disease.

An increase in EF to 70–80% should also be alarming, as this may be a sign that the heart muscle cannot compensate for increasing heart failure and seeks to throw as much blood concentration as possible into the aorta.

As the disease progresses, the LV performance indicator will decrease, and it is echocardioscopy in dynamics that will allow us to catch this moment. A high ejection fraction is typical for healthy people, in particular athletes, whose heart muscle is sufficiently trained and is able to contract with greater force than that of an ordinary person.

Treatment

It is possible to increase a reduced EF. To achieve this, doctors use not only drug therapy, but also other methods:

1. Drugs are prescribed to improve myocardial contractility. These include cardiac glycosides, after which a noticeable improvement occurs.
2. To prevent the heart from being overloaded with excess fluid, it is recommended to follow a diet limiting table salt to 1.5 g per day and fluid intake to 1.5 liters per day. Along with this, diuretics are prescribed.
3. Organoprotective agents are prescribed that help protect the heart and blood vessels.
4. A decision is made about surgery. For example, they perform valve replacement, install shunts on coronary vessels, etc. However, an extremely low ejection fraction may be a contraindication to surgery.

Prevention

Prevention to prevent the development of heart disease is of great importance, especially in children. In the age of high technology, when most of the work is done by machines, as well as constantly deteriorating environmental living conditions and poor nutrition, the risk of developing heart disease increases significantly.

Therefore, it is very important to eat right, exercise, and be outdoors more often. It is this lifestyle that will ensure normal contractility of the heart and muscle fitness.

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Let's start the conversation with what ejection fraction means. This term refers to a value that reflects the efficiency of the functioning of the heart muscle.

The indicator determines the percentage of blood that is pushed out by the left ventricle as a result of contraction. When calculating the indicator, the ratio of ejected blood relative to its amount that is in the left ventricle at the moment of relaxation is determined.

This indicator is extremely important. Deviations from the normal level indicate serious problems in the functioning of the heart, which can cause the development of pathologies of the cardiovascular system and have a negative effect on the body. Therefore, it is necessary to diagnose and evaluate the ejection fraction.

If the test results show an indicator of 60% or more, this indicates an overestimated level of ejection fraction. The highest value can reach 80%; the left ventricle is simply unable to throw more blood into the vessels due to its characteristics.

Typically, such results are typical for healthy people without other heart pathologies. And for athletes with a trained heart, in whom the heart muscle, contracting with significant force, is able to push out more blood than usual.

Cardiomyopathy or hypertension can trigger the development of myocardial hypertrophy. In such patients, the heart muscle can still cope with heart failure and compensates for it, trying to expel blood into the systemic circulation. This can be judged by observing an increase in left ventricular EF.

As heart failure progresses, the ejection fraction slowly decreases. For patients suffering from chronic heart failure, periodic echocardioscopy is extremely important to monitor the decrease in EF.

Ejection fraction is a parameter demonstrating the amount of blood that the left ventricle expels into the aorta during the systolic phase. The ejection fraction is calculated by the proportion of the volume of blood pushed into the aorta and its volume in the left ventricle during the relaxation period.

For reference. In other words, during diastole, blood from the left atrium passes into the LV, after which the muscle fibers of the heart chamber contract and release a certain amount of blood into the main artery of the body. It is this volume as a percentage that is estimated as the EF indicator.

This parameter is calculated quite simply. It clearly demonstrates the state of the ability of the muscular lining of the heart to contract. Cardiac ejection fraction makes it possible to identify a person’s need for drug treatment and has prognostic significance for people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system.

The closer to normal the ejection fraction value is, the better the patient’s ability to contract the myocardium, which indicates a more favorable prognosis for the disease.

Attention. If the calculated EF value is less than the average parameters, it should be concluded that the myocardium functions with difficulty and does not sufficiently supply the body with blood. In this case, the person needs to be prescribed heart medications.

How is ejection fraction calculated?

To calculate the cardiac ejection fraction, the Teicholtz or Simpson formula is used. The calculation is performed by a special program that automatically produces an estimate, taking into account information about the end systolic and diastolic volumes of the LV and its parameters.

Reasons for decreased EF

Low values ​​can be caused by pathologies such as:

1. Cardiac ischemia. At the same time, blood flow through the coronary arteries decreases.
2. Myocardial infarction in the anamnesis. This leads to the replacement of normal heart muscles with scars that do not have the necessary ability to contract.
3. Arrhythmia, tachycardia and other ailments that disrupt the rhythm of the body’s main “motor” and conduction.
4. Cardiomyopathy. It consists of enlarging or lengthening the heart muscle, which is caused by hormonal imbalance, prolonged hypertension, and heart defects.

There are many reasons that cause a decrease in ejection fraction. At the initial stages of the development of cardiac pathologies, the ejection fraction does not change. This is explained by the restructuring of the heart muscle under new circumstances. The layer of myocardium may increase, heart rate may increase, or changes in the system of small vessels may occur.

The primary factor provoking a failure in the ability of the muscular lining of the heart to contract is the formation of chronic heart failure.

The following pathologies lead to a decrease in cardiac output:

• cardiac ischemia;
• myocardial infarction;
• heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmia, tachycardia);
• cardiomyopathy.

Each pathology of the heart muscle affects the functioning of the ventricle in its own way. During coronary heart disease, blood flow decreases; after a heart attack, the muscles become covered with scars that cannot contract. Rhythm disturbances lead to deterioration of conductivity, rapid wear and tear of the heart, and cardiomyopathy leads to an increase in muscle size.

At the first stage of any disease, the ejection fraction does not change much. The heart muscle adapts to new conditions, the muscle layer grows, and small blood vessels are rebuilt. Gradually, the capacity of the heart is exhausted, the muscle fibers are weakened, and the volume of absorbed blood decreases.

Other diseases that reduce cardiac output:

• angina pectoris;
• hypertension;
• aneurysm of the ventricular wall;
• infectious and inflammatory diseases (pericarditis, myocarditis, endocarditis);
• myocardial dystrophy;
• cardiomyopathy;
• congenital pathologies, violation of the structure of the organ;
• vasculitis;
• vascular pathologies;
• hormonal imbalances in the body;
• diabetes;
• obesity;
• gland tumors;
• intoxication.

3 Symptoms of the disease

The diagnosis of “reduced ejection fraction” can be made based on symptoms characteristic of this disease. Such patients often complain of attacks of shortness of breath, both during physical exertion and at rest. Shortness of breath attacks can be triggered by long walking, as well as doing simple housework: washing floors, cooking.

A low ejection fraction responds to various changes in the body. Symptoms are extensive and varied, determined by the underlying cause, the presence of concomitant diseases, the age of the patient and many other factors. The most common symptoms are the following, the presence of which indicates the nature of the problem:

• fatigue that is constant;
• accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity and chest;
• decreased physical capabilities of the body;
• difficulty breathing and a constant feeling of lack of air, which intensifies with a horizontal position of the body;
• frequent dizziness, which can lead to fainting;
• decreased vision;
• pain in the area of ​​the heart muscle;
• swelling in the legs;
• increase in liver size;
• weight loss that occurs in a short time;
• impaired coordination of movements, loss of space and decreased sensitivity in the arms and legs;
• bowel movements, abdominal pain, nausea and bloody vomit;
• the presence of blood in the stool.

If one or more of these signs are detected, you should immediately contact the hospital for testing and diagnosis.

A decrease in the contractility of the heart is caused by heart failure. In this case, the following symptoms are observed:

• development of shortness of breath at rest, during physical exertion, while lying down (especially during night sleep);
• a gradual decrease in the intensity of the load to cause shortness of breath (in severe cases, the simplest manipulations - cooking, walking around the room can provoke attacks);
• general weakness, malaise, fatigue, dizziness, possible episodes of loss of consciousness;
• swelling of the body, face, legs and feet, development of anasarca (fluid accumulation in internal organs and cavities);
• pain in the right half of the abdomen, an increase in its volume.

Without proper, adequate and timely treatment, disturbances in the systolic functioning of the heart progresses, increases and can disrupt the normal existence of a person. A decrease in heart performance is a consequence of the disease. Therefore, before therapy, it is important to determine the cause of the pathology.

For example, in case of ischemic heart disease, Nitroglycerin is prescribed, the defects are removed surgically, and hypertension is controlled by taking antihypertensive drugs. The patient must clearly understand that a violation of the pumping function of the heart indicates a deterioration in his condition, the development of heart failure, which has dangerous consequences and complications.

A low ejection fraction indicates serious cardiac pathologies. Having received a diagnosis, the patient needs to reconsider his lifestyle and eliminate excessive stress on the heart. Emotional disorders can cause the condition to worsen.

Treatment methods

It is possible to increase a reduced EF. To achieve this, doctors use not only drug therapy, but also other methods:

1. Drugs are prescribed to improve myocardial contractility. These include cardiac glycosides, after which a noticeable improvement occurs.
2. To prevent the heart from being overloaded with excess fluid, it is recommended to follow a diet limiting table salt to 1.5 g per day and fluid intake to 1.5 liters per day. Along with this, diuretics are prescribed.
3. Organoprotective agents are prescribed that help protect the heart and blood vessels.
4. A decision is made about surgery. For example, valve replacement is performed, install shunts on the coronary vessels etc. However, an extremely low ejection fraction may be a contraindication to surgery.

There are several treatment methods that can bring cardiac ejection fraction back to normal. The choice of the desired method is carried out on the basis of data obtained as a result of complex diagnostics.

Drug therapy

You can achieve an increase in cardiac ejection fraction by taking certain groups of drugs:

1. ACE inhibitors have a dilating effect on blood vessels, improve myocardial nutrition, and make the heart more resistant to stress.
2. Beta blockers reduce heart rate, reduce heart wear, reduce oxygen demand of tissues and increase the number of heart zones that participate in the contractile process.
3. Aldosterone receptor antagonists normalize potassium and sodium levels and remove fluid from the body.
4. Diuretics.
5. Cardiac glycosides improve the contractile function of the myocardium and restore the conduction of impulses, which is important in cases of impaired cardiac function.

There is also an additional list of medications that in some cases increase cardiac ejection fraction:

• statins lower cholesterol levels and protect blood vessels;
• Anticoagulants thin the blood and reduce the likelihood of developing blood clots.

Some drugs are prescribed along with the main therapy, having an additional effect on the body. Such medications include peripheral vasodilators, calcium channel blockers, antiplatelet agents, and antiarrhythmia drugs.

Only the attending physician should prescribe drug therapy. Self-medication is strictly prohibited, as the disease can worsen and cause serious complications.

Surgical correction

In advanced conditions, when drug treatment does not produce the desired results and a person’s life is at risk, surgery is recommended. There are several methods that can increase the ejection fraction of the heart. The choice of technique is based on the indicators and condition of the person. The two most commonly used surgical techniques are:

1. A defibrillator or stimulator is implanted into the body through open heart surgery. The device is capable of responding to changes in the functioning of the heart; at the right moment it is activated and brings the functioning of the organ back to normal due to electrical influence.
2. The effect on different rhythms of the atria and ventricles is to artificially slow down the contractions of the heart. Artificial is used heart muscle block. The result of such surgery is the restoration of ducts through which blood can flow into the ventricles.

Non-drug treatment

In addition to the main treatment, be it medication or surgery, it is necessary to adhere to a number of recommendations that form the basis of non-drug treatment. This will increase the chances of recovery, shorten the duration of treatment and strengthen the body. The essence of this treatment lies in the following principles:

• normalization of the daily routine with 8 hours of sleep;
• moderate and standardized exercises;
• choice of light sport;
• daily leisurely walks;
• proper and nutritious nutrition;
• massage;
• reduction of stress and nervous shock;
• maintaining water balance means drinking 1.5 liters of water daily, but not more than 2;
• reducing the amount of salt;
• refusal bad habits.

DlyaSerdca → Heart diseases → Other diseases → What is normal ejection fraction?

When examining the heart and cardiovascular system, patients are often faced with concepts that they do not understand. One of these is ejection fraction.

This concept is an indicator of how effective cardiac activity is. When the heart contracts, blood is pumped, and this term characterizes the amount of blood that is released into the vessels.

Ejection fraction is measured as a percentage. If the ventricles contained 100 ml of blood before contraction, and the vessels contained 60 ml, then this figure is 65%.

Measurements are usually taken from the left ventricle, from which blood is sent through the systemic circulation. Low left ventricular ejection fraction can lead to heart failure, so it needs to be monitored.

The ejection fraction is studied in several ways. The simplest of them is ultrasound of the heart.

This method is good because even when used for other purposes (not for taking measurements), the doctor can get an idea of ​​how effective the heart contractions are. Also, this diagnostic method is simple and convenient, has no side effects and does not cause discomfort to patients.

Another way to measure this indicator is isotope ventriculography. It can be used to determine the ejection fraction of both ventricles. This method is more expensive, so ultrasound is usually used.

The cost of such diagnostics depends on the research method used, as well as on what measures doctors prescribe in addition to it.

Before prescribing the necessary therapy when a reduced cardiac ejection fraction is detected, the cause that has become a factor in its reduction should be determined.

Treatment for this condition can be completely varied - from medication to surgery.