Ask Your Health Question. Health Experts Answer You ASAP.

(Not a Health Question?)

Dear Dr. Gupta,With regards to my pre-icd (Oct. 6) ...
Sent to Health Experts February 14 08:03 PM

Dear Dr. Gupta,

With regards to my pre-icd (Oct. 6) ejection fraction of 10-15% increasing to 40% with an icd, since failure of the heart begins at 40%, isn't this sort of like going from an F to a D minus on an exam in school? I recently have slow walked on a treadmill for 5-10 minutes a few times to practice a little in case at some time they wanted to see how I was doing (me too) by giving me a stress test. Each time, after about 5 minutes, my beats per minute would drop 30 - 40 beats. Is this something I should be concerned about? Now that the Medtronic Corporation is really promoting icd's, does that mean that the doctors who implant them would have less time for their patients who already have them because they will be so busy implanting icd's in new patients?

 

Optional Information:
Male , Age: 56

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $15
Answer
February 15 12:56 AM (4 hours and 52 minutes and 49 seconds later)
         
THIS ANSWER IS LOCKED!
You can view this answer by clicking here to Register or Login and paying $3.
Reply
February 15 4:48 AM (3 hours and 51 minutes and 42 seconds later)
         
Dear Dr. Gupta,

I understand that a 40% Ejection Fraction is obviously better than one of 10%, but since it is still low compared to average, isn't it like going from an F to a D minus on an exam? While I do feel good and know that I have good exercise tolerance (and my job requires me to physically work like a 20 year old), I exercised a lot (nautilus and one hour stints on a treadmill) before I spent 12 straight days in a hospital in July. I was so sleep deprived and it being the first time I was ever in a hospital, I don't remember everything but they couldn't figure out why my heart was too wild. They said that at some point I would go to Cardiac Rehabilitation and that an exercise physiologist and physical therapist etc. would help me and they would test me with an exercise stress test. Does this happen to everyone who has heart failure and when? My echocardiogram was done on Jan. 10 but I wonder what else they learned about what is wrong with my heart other than the Ejection Fraction? My doctor and nurse (and all the doctors and nurses I've met) are unusually nice people but I'm still trying to understand what happened to me and most important, what kind of life ahead will I have?

Sorry for the length of my response)

Denis Melican
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
February 15 7:01 AM (2 hours and 13 minutes and 49 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
Was the calcified mitral valve the cause of your low EF?
What procedure was done to improve this?
How is your exercise tolerance at present?
While you are right in EF of 40 % being low, it is a combination of factors that will decide your long term prognosis and exercise tolerance is an important issue in this regards..

regards

Dr. Gupta


Think you can answer this question?
Login or Become an Expert

Related Answers

 

DISCLAIMER: You acknowledge that any information you may obtain from individuals you contact through use of the Just Answer service comes from those individuals, not from Just Answer!, and that Just Answer is not in any way responsible for any of the information these third parties may supply. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty and no representations are made regarding the qualification of an Expert. Responses and comments on Just Answer! are for general information and are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (such as medical, legal, investment or accounting) and do not establish a professional-client relationship. Just Answer! is not intended or designed to address EMERGENCY QUESTIONS which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service.

Just Answer! > Online Health Advice