Ejection Fraction Evaluates Health of the Heart to Pump Blood

The United States Congress designated since 1963, the President proclaim February "American Heart Month" - educate the awareness of heart disease and stroke. 1 In the United States number one killer for most women is heart disease, however the odds decrease substantially prior to the forties, when estrogen level is high (protecting against heart disease), decreases during peri-menapause ("During perimenopause, your ovaries start to shut down, making less of certain hormones (estrogen and progesterone), and you begin to lose the ability to become pregnant." 3) 2 According to health professional experts, statistical information gathered in 2005: "Women under the age of 50 are twice as likely to die from a heart attack as men in the same age group. African women 55 - 64 are twice as likely as white women to have a heart attack and 35 percent more likely to suffer from heart disease." In 2006 United States estimated 80 million people (men and women) affected by cardiovascular disease. 4 Among the preventive measures against a heart attack or heart disease diagnostic measurement evaluates, how well the heart pumps out blood.

Heart attack and heart disease most commonly attributed to a narrowing or blockage of blood flow through coronary arteries. ("Coronary circulation is the circulation of blood in the blood vessels of the heart muscle". 5). 6 As well deprives the heart with oxygenated blood supply. 7 The heart muscle is perceptible to damage or failure, when blood flow is interrupted. 6 When blood cholesterol level increase, may lead to plaque accumulation on the inner walls of the blood vessels, cutting off or narrowing blood supply in the heart. 8 Among the four chambers of the heart, two ventricles (right and left): "The right ventricle pumps venous blood to the lung and the left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body." 9

A diagnostic evaluation ascertain heart damage from a heart attack or heart disease (heart valves or muscle): Ejection fraction is a mathematical measurement (Taking into account for the volume of blood within the ventricle just before a heart contraction, volume of blood left in the ventricle at the end of contraction, and volume of blood ejected with each beat. 11) of the capacity your heart to pump blood out of the filled left - ventricle (LV) with each heartbeat (Left Ventricle major pumping chamber). "A normal LV ejection fraction is 55 to 70 percent." 10 Such as healthy male (154-lb) evaluated to have an ejection fraction of 70/100 or 58 percent: Total amount of blood the left ventricle propelled out during each beat of the heart. 11 (Overview of the Ejection Fraction mathematical formula: http://www.answers.com/topic/ejection-fraction) When the LV ejection fraction is less than normal, maybe indicative of heart damage attributed to a heart attack or cardiovascular concerns. 10 Ejection fraction below 40 percent hint of heart failure or cardiomyopathy 11: Inability of the heart pump sufficient amount of blood due to an abnormally enlarged heart muscle 12 Compared to the right ventricle the ejection fraction is normally within the same narrow range limits for evaluating heart damage or normal working values. 11

When the heart muscle has become thick and stiff, the ventricle keeps a smaller volume of blood, providing a false positive or normal ejection fraction: "In reality, though, the total amount of blood pumped isn't enough to meet your body's needs. 11

Diagnostic imaging tools to measure Ejection fraction include: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Computerized tomography (CT), Ultrasound, Cardiac catheterization, and Nuclear medicine scan. 10

When low ejection fraction is assessed further medical tests may be necessary, preventing a heart attack or treatment for heart disease. Treatment to prevent cardiac arrest includes medication, change of lifestyle (diet / exercise), balloon angioplasty or catheterization to clear blockage, surgery and implanting a defibrillator to prevent heart failure. 13 Dr. Zannos Grekos (Interventional Cardiologist - Chief Medical Officer for Regenocyte Therapeutic, and Associate Clinical Professor of Cardiology for Nova Southeastern University - Florida 15) pioneer of adult stem cell therapy treated a patient, diagnosed with low Ejection Fraction by implanting the patient's own stem cell to treat heart disease. The patient ejection fraction improved by Forty - One percent after receiving treatment six months later, lowering the risk of a heart attack. During the twenty minute procedure, about 30 separate injections of adult stem cells were administered through a catheter into the patient's damaged part of the heart (left ventricle). 14

References:

1.) American Heart Month - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4441

2.) Know About the Number One Killer of Women - http://www.wicz.com/news2005/viewarticle.asp?a=12791

3. Perimenopause - http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/perimenopause.cfm

4.) Experts Identify Why Women and African Americans Face a Greater Risk of Dying From Heart Disease Than White Men - and What Can Be Done About It - http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1823835/experts_identify_why_women_and_african_americans_face_a_greater/index.html?source=r_health

5.) Coronary circulation - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronary_circulation

6.) Heart Attack - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-attack/DS00094

7.) Heart Attack - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000195.htm

8.) Definition of Plaque - http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11888

9) MedicneNet.com - Palpitations - http://www.medicinenet.com/palpitations/article.htm

10.) Ejection fraction: What does it measure? - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ejection-fraction/AN00360

11.) Ejection fraction - http://www.answers.com/topic/ejection-fraction

12.) Cardiomyopathy - http://www.answers.com/topic/cardiomyopathy

13.) THE DOCTOR IS IN: What's your ejection fraction? - http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2010/02/17/stcharles/news/0217east-clever0.txt

14.) Adult stem cell therapy improves Ejection Fraction in patient with severe heart disease - http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100203/Adult-stem-cell-therapy-improves-Ejection-Fraction-in-patient-with-severe-heart-disease.aspx

15.) Zannos Grekos, MD To Present Clinical Results Of Regenerative Stem Cell Treatments To The Dubai Congress On Anti-Aging And Aesthetic Medicine - http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/128314.php