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Is EF Value Of 45% A Cause For Concern?
Question: My left ventricle EF is 45%. I am on Vastarel and concor. I still feel drained and tired by the middle of the day. Is there some tonic or other medication that can help me feel OK. I am 69 years old. My blood pressure is low as I feel dizzy from time to time. My diabetes is under control (A1C- 5.9) I walk about 2.5-3.0 km about 3 times a week. Some nights when I am asleep my both arms get numb and I have to coax them back to action by massaging them.
Brief Answer:
Following answer to your query...
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read your query and understood your concerns.
First of all your symptoms are as a consequence of three contributing factors.
1. Heart failure.
2. Side effects of medication you are taking.
3. Diabetes
Heart failure in your case may be caused by ischemic heart disease (chest angina). This explain Chest angina on walking.
If you were my patient I would recommend to do the following examinations to properly evaluate your heart status:
- Stress test
- Cardiac echo
- Angiography
These examinations will confirm if you have any coronary arteries blockage responsible for angina and coronary failure and will determine the best way to deal with that (coronary stenting or coronary bypass).
More over, if coronary blockage is the underlying cause of heart failure, doing the coronary intervention (stent or bypass) will improve heart failure and ejection fraction.
If you have already done some of these examinations can you upload the reports?
Some of your symptoms especially fatigue, leg numbness and dizziness are most likely related to Vastarel use and stopping it for a week will made these symptoms go away.
If you were my patient I would like to recommend as follows:
- Drink plenty of waters
- Use fresh fruits juice
- Take omega 3 fish oil
- Use Multivitamins and electrolytes supplements (Multicentrum)
This will be of help in reliving your symptoms. If your symptoms will persist than you should discuss with your doctor about stopping Vastarel.
Hope this will be of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Following answer to your query...
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read your query and understood your concerns.
First of all your symptoms are as a consequence of three contributing factors.
1. Heart failure.
2. Side effects of medication you are taking.
3. Diabetes
Heart failure in your case may be caused by ischemic heart disease (chest angina). This explain Chest angina on walking.
If you were my patient I would recommend to do the following examinations to properly evaluate your heart status:
- Stress test
- Cardiac echo
- Angiography
These examinations will confirm if you have any coronary arteries blockage responsible for angina and coronary failure and will determine the best way to deal with that (coronary stenting or coronary bypass).
More over, if coronary blockage is the underlying cause of heart failure, doing the coronary intervention (stent or bypass) will improve heart failure and ejection fraction.
If you have already done some of these examinations can you upload the reports?
Some of your symptoms especially fatigue, leg numbness and dizziness are most likely related to Vastarel use and stopping it for a week will made these symptoms go away.
If you were my patient I would like to recommend as follows:
- Drink plenty of waters
- Use fresh fruits juice
- Take omega 3 fish oil
- Use Multivitamins and electrolytes supplements (Multicentrum)
This will be of help in reliving your symptoms. If your symptoms will persist than you should discuss with your doctor about stopping Vastarel.
Hope this will be of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for your timely response to my question concerning my heart condition.
Please find attached the results for my Echogram, Angiogram and latest Blood works. and I hope that this will give you more information to make a better assessment of my condition and offer a more thorough response.
Please find attached the results for my Echogram, Angiogram and latest Blood works. and I hope that this will give you more information to make a better assessment of my condition and offer a more thorough response.
Brief Answer:
Following advice.
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
After reviewing your data I would like to say as follows:
- Your heart contraction is weak (general hypokinesia) causing a slight reduction of ejection fraction seen on angiography. This findings may explain dyspnea and chest pain on physical activity.
- However your findings doesn't explain fatigue, dizziness, numbness etc. As I said earlier to you these symptoms are most likely a side effecHi back,
After reviewing your data I would like to say as follows:
- Your heart contraction is weak (general hypokinesia) causing a slight reduction of ejection fraction seen on angiography. This findings may explain dyspnea and chest pain on physical activity.
- Your findings doesn't explain your principal concerns such as fatigue, dizziness, numbness etc. As I said earlier to you these symptoms are most likely a side effect of Vastarel use. Vastarel is used for relieving chest pain. If you were my patient I would recommend switching from Vastarel to nitrate preparations. However you should discuss with your doctor before any change on your therapy.
- Your actual blood work data are normal and you should continue with healthy life style. I would like to recommend the following life style modifications :
- eat a healthy Mediterranean diet reach in fresh vegetables, olive oil and fish.
- loose weight
- increase physical activity
- reduce alcohol intake
- quit smoking
- avoid consuming coffee chocolate and energy drinks
- use Multivitamins and Omega 3 fish oil
- avoid unnecessary stress
- use chamomile tea
All these measures together with changes in therapy will improve your symptoms and will make you live longer.
Hope this will be of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Following advice.
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
After reviewing your data I would like to say as follows:
- Your heart contraction is weak (general hypokinesia) causing a slight reduction of ejection fraction seen on angiography. This findings may explain dyspnea and chest pain on physical activity.
- However your findings doesn't explain fatigue, dizziness, numbness etc. As I said earlier to you these symptoms are most likely a side effecHi back,
After reviewing your data I would like to say as follows:
- Your heart contraction is weak (general hypokinesia) causing a slight reduction of ejection fraction seen on angiography. This findings may explain dyspnea and chest pain on physical activity.
- Your findings doesn't explain your principal concerns such as fatigue, dizziness, numbness etc. As I said earlier to you these symptoms are most likely a side effect of Vastarel use. Vastarel is used for relieving chest pain. If you were my patient I would recommend switching from Vastarel to nitrate preparations. However you should discuss with your doctor before any change on your therapy.
- Your actual blood work data are normal and you should continue with healthy life style. I would like to recommend the following life style modifications :
- eat a healthy Mediterranean diet reach in fresh vegetables, olive oil and fish.
- loose weight
- increase physical activity
- reduce alcohol intake
- quit smoking
- avoid consuming coffee chocolate and energy drinks
- use Multivitamins and Omega 3 fish oil
- avoid unnecessary stress
- use chamomile tea
All these measures together with changes in therapy will improve your symptoms and will make you live longer.
Hope this will be of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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