Stroke Volume

79yrs, 175 lbs. PM implanted 9 weeks ago.

A stress test shows the left ventricle pumping at a level of 43 (milliliters?). The doc says my normal level should be about 60, so the heart is pumping blood to the body at 72% of its normal rate.

Metaprolol increased. No other action until it reaches 30ml (50%) or so.

Any comments? Any experience with these levels?

Start Cardio-Vascular training? I walk daily and do yoga and golf. Change my diet? (Currently eat lots of veggies and fruit. Fish twice weekly. No alcohol)

I understand that the heart does not pump out all the blood in the left ventricle - nor does the 60 ml represent the max volume of the heart.

The stress test revealed damage to the ventricle, probably from a previously unknown heart attack.

I look forward to hearing from this very special group.

Azviking

1 Comments

question?

by Gotrhythm - 2014-07-15 04:07:44

Not sure what your question is, but I want to welcome you to the club--a great place to get support and information as you learn to live with you "new normal."

About "cardio-vascular training." What we have in the US is cardiac rehab, which may or may not be the same thing. In cardiac rehab staffed by medical professionals, you are encouraged to get your heart rate up and keep it there, while keeping you from doing too much too soon. They can also advise you about diet and other life style issues. And of course they are there in case anything goes wrong--very comforting.

I found cardiac rehab very helpful even though I was already a walker and a yoga student. But before I got my PM I simply couldn't walk fast. When running up a flight of stairs, I would come close to passing out. So needless to say, I didn't walk fast and I didn't run up stairs. The very knowledgeable staff at cardiac rehab helped me to get comfortable with my PM, and to learn what I could do now that I had one.

Hope this helps.

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