What is cardiac output?

Cardiac output is defined as the amount of blood that the heart pumps out in one minute. It is a critical measure of heart function and overall cardiovascular health. Cardiac output is influenced by heart rate (the number of beats per minute) and stroke volume (the amount of blood ejected by the heart with each contraction). By combining these two parameters, you can assess how efficiently the heart is supplying blood to the body during rest and exercise.

Understanding cardiac output is essential because it reflects the ability of the heart to meet the metabolic demands of tissues. A higher cardiac output typically indicates better perfusion of organs and tissues, while a lower output may suggest potential cardiac issues or decreased blood flow.

While the amount of blood pumped per stroke refers to stroke volume and the total volume of blood in the body pertains to blood volume, these are not measures of cardiac output itself. The speed of blood flow through arteries relates to hemodynamics but does not encompass the volume aspect that is critical in defining cardiac output.