How to manage ejection fraction by Ayurveda?
What is Ejection Fraction?
Ejection Fraction is a measurement of the percentage of blood leaving your heart (left ventricles) each time it contracts. It is the fraction of outbound blood pumped from the heart with each heartbeat. With each heartbeat, the heart squeezes and relaxes. The contraction pushes the blood out while the relaxation refills the blood in the ventricles. A normal heart pumps over half the heart’s volume of blood with each heartbeat which means a normal EF number is 50 to 75 percent. Less than 35 percent means that the heart’s pumping ability is low.
The EF is expressed as a percentage. EF helps the doctor to know if the heart is functioning properly or not and it can help the doctor to guide the best course of treatment. EF can be measured by a painless test called Echocardiogram. Other tests to measure EF are MRI, CT scan, Cardiac Catheterization, and Nuclear Medicine Scans.
Causes of low EF percentage:
There could be a number of reasons why ejection fraction may decrease. Some of those include weakness of heart muscles, a problem with heart valves, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or due to damage caused by a heart attack.
Symptoms of Low EF percentage and subsequent heart failure:
Some of the most common symptoms include shortness of breath and irregular heartbeat, weakness in lower limbs and feeling tired, frequent urination especially at night, dizziness and fainting, swelling in ankles, feet, legs, abdomen, loss of appetite or upset stomach and dry cough.
In some cases, the patient might experience chest pain and sudden weight gain from fluid retention.
Treatment for Low Ejection Fraction in Ayurveda:
Failure of the heart to work in its normal rhythm is called Congestive Cardiac Failure. EF is, therefore, an important measurement in recognizing and diagnosing heart failure. Ayurvedic medicines for heart failure treatment are very effective to increase the ejection fraction.
Planet Ayurveda offers 5 excellent products combined together in their “EF Booster Pack“. All these medicines are prepared under the supervision of eminent doctors with complete safety. The medicines are prepared using standardized extracts of herbs, they are free from any kind of chemicals, binders and fillers and are safe to use along with modern medicines.
EF Booster Pack includes the following medicines:
1. Arjuna Capsules
Arjuna Capsules are prepared using herb Arjuna which is well known to treat heart problems. The medicine works towards strengthening the heart muscles, lowers the LDL and increases HDL levels, maintains a smooth blood flow throughout the body and helps in flushing out toxins from the blood.
Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily with plain water after meals.
2.Total Heart Support
As the name suggests the medicine is an excellent product to manage heart health. It is prepared using herbs like Arjuna, Ashwagandha, Brahmi and Shankhpushpi that are known to possess cardiovascular and anti-oxidant properties. This medicine helps in subsiding the blood pressure and cholesterol levels and improves EF gradually.
Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily with plain water after meals.
3. Rencure Formula
The Rencure Formula is a great remedy to overcome fluid retention in the body. It treats edema and helps to eliminate toxins from the body naturally. The Rencure Formula is prepared using herbs like Punarnava, Varun, Gokshur, Kaasni and Palaash.
Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily with plain water after meals.
4. Prabhakar Vati
Prabhakar vati is a classical ayurvedic preparation prepared using Makshika Bhasma (Bhasma of Copper and Iron Pyrite), Loha Bhasma (Bhasma prepared from Iron), Tavakshir (Bambusa bambosa), and Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) etc. It is widely used in the ayurvedic practise to manage the cardiac ailments like Left ventricular Ejection fraction, myocardial infarction, Congestive heart failure etc. This amazing formulation increases the pumping of the heart and promotes healthy circulation.
Dosage: 1 tablet twice daily with plain water after meals.
5. Hridayarnava Rasa
Hridayarnava ras is a classical ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulaton in tablet form prepared using ingredients like shuddha parad (purified mercury), Shuddha gandhak (Purified sulphur), triphala (three myrobalans) and many other herbs . This formulation can be given in diseases of cardiac origin with predominance of kapha dosha. Triphala in this formulation pacifiy all the three doshas and aids in alleviating symptoms like difficulty in breathing, chest heaviness and many others. Hridyarnava ras can be given in conditions like high cholestrol, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease.
Dosage: 1 tablet twice daily with plain water after meals.
Diet Recommendation
Diet to improve EF includes fiber-rich diet that includes green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits especially apples and guava. Diet high in potassium, magnesium, calcium and antioxidants is helpful. Gourd juice is very beneficial. It is very important to eat healthily and treat constipation as constipation leads to an imbalance of Vata dosha which can lead to sudden heart attacks.
Light meals are recommended, less sugar, fewer oils, and consumption of eggs and meats in the limit.
A change in lifestyle is an easy way to improve EF over time.
Exercise is very important to strengthen the heart and improve its functioning. 30 minutes of walking, cardio, strength training beginning with a warmup and cool up sections helps a lot.
Limiting salt intake is the key to a healthy heart. Low EF means, the kidneys are getting less blood, which in turn makes them unable to flush out excess water and salt so one needs to limit intake of salt to avoid getting fluid buildup in the body.
Limiting fluid intake as with low EF, chances are there that blood gets back up in the lungs and forces fluid into the breathing spaces. This makes it difficult to breathe.
Maintaining a healthy weight makes it easier for heart and blood vessels to circulate blood and manage fluid levels.
Quit smoking, abstain from alcohol and try to lead a stress-free life.
By managing the heart failure care and following the treatment plan, one can control symptoms and improve ejection fraction.
