EECP® Therapy is a non-invasive outpatient treatment for angina. For
people with angina (chest discomfort, pressure, or squeezing), even simple
activities, such as going to the mailbox or walking the dog, can be challenging.
EECP® Therapy typically improves symptoms, exercise performance, and
quality of life. Most patients sustain its benefits for more than two years.
Treatments are administered one hour a day, five days a week, for a total
of 35 sessions.
Patients lie comfortably on a table with large blood-pressure-like cuffs
wrapped around their calves, thighs, and hips. The cuffs inflate and deflate
at specific times between heartbeats, increasing blood and oxygen supply
to the heart muscle, which improves its ability to pump blood throughout the body.
Are you a candidate for EECP® Therapy?
Your doctor will examine you and review your medical history to determine
if you are a candidate for EECP® Therapy.
You may be a candidate if:
You have angina
Your heart medications no longer relieve your angina symptoms
You have had open-heart (bypass) surgery, a balloon angioplasty or stent,
or other invasive procedures, and your symptoms have returned
You have been told you cannot have another bypass surgery, balloon angioplasty
or stent, or other invasive procedures
You have chosen not to have any further surgery, angioplasties, or invasive
procedures
You do not have any other medical conditions that may prevent you from
having EECP® Therapy
How does EECP® Therapy relieve the symptoms of angina?
Angina is a signal from your heart muscle that it is not receiving enough
blood and oxygen because the arteries that supply the heart muscle are
blocked or narrowed. Angina, often called “chest pain,” can
also be discomfort down the left arm, between the shoulder blades, or
in the jaw. Angina equivalent symptoms may also include fatigue and shortness
of breath.
EECP® Therapy works by increasing the blood and oxygen supply to the
heart muscle and decreasing the amount of work the heart has to do to
pump blood to the rest of the body.
What are the advantages of EECP® Therapy?
EECP® Therapy is not invasive, does not require a hospital stay, has
no recovery period, and allows you to return to your routine each day
after receiving treatment.
What are the benefits of EECP® Therapy?
Most patients experience positive results, such as the following:
Having no angina or angina that is less frequent and less intense
Having more energy
Being able to take part in more activities of daily living with little
or no angina or heart failure symptoms
Enjoying a better quality of life
Having a more positive outlook
Is EECP® treatment comfortable?
There is a feeling of pressure from the cuffs around your legs and hips.
Once you become accustomed to this pressure, the sessions usually pass
comfortably.
How will I feel after the treatment?
EECP® Therapy is often described as being like “passive exercise,”
so you may feel tired after the first few days of treatment. This is normal,
especially if you haven’t been exercising.
Usually, once this short “training period” is over, you will
notice that you have more energy.
When can I expect to feel improvement?
Each patient responds differently. Most patients report beginning to feel
better about halfway through the seven weeks.
How long do the benefits of EECP® Therapy last after a course of treatment?
The International EECP® Patient Registry (IEPR) data have shown that
benefits of EECP® Therapy can last up to three years after completing
the first course (35 hours) of treatment. Other smaller studies have shown
the benefits last up to five years in some patients.
Can everyone have EECP® Therapy?
Your doctor knows your medical history and condition and will determine
if it is safe for you to have EECP® Therapy.
Talk with your doctor to see if EECP® Therapy is right for you.
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