Weakness of the heart

Dear Ask The Doctor: I was told by a Cardiologist that my left side of my heart muscle is too weak. what do that mean?

Dear Ron:The left ventricle (LV) of the heart is the chamber that pumps blood through the aorta to the other vital organs and the rest of the body. On echocardiogram the left ventricular ejection fraction or LVEF is measured and used to check for damage to heart muscle function or pumping ability of the heart. The LVEF value for a person with no heart damage is usually around 60 percent or greater. If the left side of your heart is weak, this may refer to systolic dysfunction (condition that causes reduced pumping ability of the heart's left lower ventricle) reducing the overall pumping ability of the heart. Common causes of moderately reduced left ventricular function include myocardial infarction: (heart attack) and other forms of ischemic heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), valvular heart disease and cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart). Your cardiologist could provide further information regarding causes in your case.