Thanks Jake. I did not discuss the pro and con of beta blockers (BB) with my cardiologist. I saw him after the EKG and stress test. We discussed the results. I carried him a graph of my blood pressure and oxygen saturation over 18 months. He showed me the EKG video and said the bottom of the heart was not pumping as vigorously as the top. He said he thought I had had a heart attack. I told him I had not experienced any pain or other symptom. He said he thought I probably I should take medication. He then scheduled me for a "non-stress" stress test the next day; i.e., no treadmill just with the heart at rest. I did not talk with him after this "no stress" stress test but his nurse did call and talked with me and confirmed his diagnosis and said he recommended BB. She also stated correctly that the doctor and I had talked about medication and I was not interested in taking BB. A year ago after EKG and stress tests I was told I had a leaky heart valve. So this is the first time he has said I had heart failure. I have great confidence in my cardiologist since I know several people who he has treated for many years. However, I have researched BB and they basically lower the blood pressure, slow the heart rate. As I mentioned I check my blood pressure every day and have been doing so for a couple of years or more and I don't have high blood pressure. Therefore, based on blood pressure; exercise and no symptoms, I don't think BB would be beneficial. And of course BB have side effects. I am not ignoring my doctor's analysis and I will certainly watch my blood pressure and potential symptoms closely and if things change I will go see my cardiologist. The following is my diagnosis in medical language: NYHA class 1 heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; EF estimated 37% on myocardial perfusion study 2/4/20.

Thanks Leonard. I am new at this so maybe I should say thanks Jake. Thanks Both :). I did not discuss the specific benefits and risk factors with my doctor. The scheduling of tests and appointments did not put us together after all the data was in. My doctor told his nurse, who was the last one to communicate with me after all the test data were in, that I didn't want to take the beta blockers. I confirmed that was true. This was the first time I have been diagnosed with heart failure. Previously, last year, I was diagnosed with a moderately leaky Aortic valve (actually the original diagnosis 6 months before was moderately leaky Tricuspid). I see the cardiologist once a year. Below is the ejection fraction.

NYHA class 1 heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; EF estimated 37% on myocardial perfusion study 2/4/20.

George