What does it mean to have CHF diagnosis, symptoms, normal echo?

@mikeydc2008
Usually the echocardiogram will give you the Ejection Fraction (EF). This is the prime (per my heart failure doctor at Mayo) to determine if you have heart failure (HF).

Per my heart failure doctor and electrophysiologist the normal EF is 50-70. That is a statistic though and does not reflect what is normal for you. But what doctors use (again not an opinion but what is told to me by my medical doctors) is once it goes below 50 then consider HF.

So important to know your EF. Regarding CHF. I think what I have learned over having HF diagnosed since 2001 is they use this diagnosis when you have HF. I don't agree with that and have challenged that (CHF) with my doctors and that is when I was told HF patients get lump into a overall CHF status. So you can, and definitely for me technically can have HF because of your EF but not have CHF symptoms.

I exercise every day 1-2 hours. I do water aerobics (high level) 5 days a week taking 7 classes in all. I swim 1-2 twice a week 1/2 mile, and ride my bike 15 miles 1-2 times a week.

And yes I have HF. My EF is 22%. But has been that same % for over 10 years. I credit that with very good medications and the my pacemaker is programmed to pace the RV and LV to optimize the best EF they can get using each side contractions to increased EF.