[PatriotGames]

I wonder about that lady's heart pumping at 57% efficiency. It might be a misprint on the original. Larry Holmes' heart, for example, when in training for the Mike Tyson fight, was at 55% and, according to doctors, is the maximum efficiency rate that any heart can achieve.

Be that as it may, I DO believe in miracles. In 1988 I had triple bypass surgery. Early in 2001 my bypasses shut down. The doctors are puzzled as to why I am still alive.

[capt. norm]

" Mike Tyson fight, was at 55% and, according to doctors, is the maximum efficiency rate that any heart can achieve. "

I know my stupidity is about to show, but if 55% is the maximum performance possible, then where do they get the 100%? Maybe they need to lower the bar and re-assign the 100% level to reality.

[dglang]

That percedntage might be 'Ejection Efficiency', or the percentage of the blood within the heart that is ejected at each contraction. I have pretty severe cardiac arythmia and experience several problems. A few years ago during testing, the doctors rated my percentage at 44%.

That didn't sound very encouraging to me, but the doctors said that it was quite ok and nothing to worry about.

[Gary Boldwater]

Maybe they are referring to stroke volume, ie cardiac output.