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Heart Failure - No Symptoms

Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: Mar 10, 2020 | Replies (17)

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@poppy0344

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.

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Replies to "Thanks Jake. I did not discuss the pro and con of beta blockers (BB) with my..."

@poppy0344
Hello again,
There’s a number of nurses here who know far more about heart failure than I ever hoped to know and although I probably shouldn’t say anything, that hasn't seemed to stop me yet.
I didn't think an Ejection Fraction of 37 provided our bodies with an ideal amount of oxygen rich blood. I assume your cardiologist is well aware of all of your vital signs and I wouldn’t think he would recommend beta blockers if he felt that they would bring your blood pressure or other vitals down to dangerous levels. Your doctor may be trying to get your Left ventricle to pump out more blood for the bodies use and also trying to prevent or at least lower the risk of sudden cardiac death especially since you’ve already had one heart attack.
If it were me I’d be on a plane to the
Cleveland Clinic ASAP. perhaps you’ve already had a thorough heart-to-heart with your cardiologist but if you haven’t I would want to know exactly why he wants to start you on beta blockers, find out his reasoning. My gas and of course it’s an educated guess at best But I’d assume he wants to try and raise your ejection fraction as well as the fact that you’ve already had a heart attack so he wants to try to lower that risk as well and also your stroke risk. I don’t understand the fact that you’re asymptomatic with an ejection fraction of 37. Hopefully one of the nurses here can shed some light on symptoms vs function vs staging.
Take good care of yourself,
Jake