Ask the doctor: Can I have a low ejection fraction and not feel it?

Ask the doctor

Can I have a low ejection fraction and not feel it?

Q. My doctor told me that I have "low ejection fraction," but I feel fine. How can this be? I thought this was part of heart failure and would make someone feel bad. Should I do anything about it, even though I don't have any symptoms?

A. Your ejection fraction is the amount of blood your heart squeezes out with each beat. The typical heart fills with a half-cup of blood (four ounces) and ejects a bit over half that with each heartbeat. A normal ejection fraction is in the range of 55–70%.

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