Question:

My mom’s heart is working 25%.  Is this serious?

My mom went into hospital for a severe infection of her kidney. They have now put her in ICU because she was having problems breathing. They did a heart ultrasound and now have stated that her heart only works 25 percent, and that her heart is not pumping properly. Is this serious? She is having a nuclear test tomorrow to determine more information. Can one die from this?

Submitted by Melissa from New Jersey

Answer:
by George Younis, MD

A weak heart is always a potentially serious condition, though sometimes heart function can recover with proper therapy.