EECP could save your life.
- What does EECP stand
for?
The
acronym EECP stands for Enhanced External Counter Pulsation.
EECP is a non-invasive, outpatient
treatment for heart disease that is used to relieve or eliminate angina. During
the treatment, blood pressure cuffs are wrapped around your legs, and squeeze
and release in sync with your heartbeat, promoting blood flow throughout your
body and particularly to your heart. In the process, EECP develops new pathways
around blocked arteries in the heart by expanding networks of tiny blood
vessels (”collaterals”) that help increase and normalize blood flow to the
heart muscle. For this reason, it is often called the natural bypass.
Angina is a signal from your body
telling you that your heart muscle is not receiving enough oxygenated blood.
The heart requires an especially enriched supply of oxygen via the incoming
blood flow in the coronary arteries. When the vessels that supply the heart
with oxygenated blood become narrowed, the area of the heart that is not
receiving the proper blood flow responds with a very painful signal called
angina pectoris. Angina may feel like chest pain or pressure, shortness of
breath, pain in the jaw, neck, arms, back, nausea or generalized fatigue. Each
patient experiences angina differently.
- 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?
Unlike
bypass surgery, balloon angioplasty, and stenting procedures, EECP is
non-invasive, carries no risk, is comfortable and is administered in outpatient
sessions. Benefits of EECP, including less angina, less nitroglycerin usage,
and improved blood flow patterns documented on stress tests, had lasted. Most
patients experience positive results, such as the following:
- Having no angina or angina that is less frequent and less intense
- Less or no nitroglycerin use
- 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 Therapy comfortable?
There is a feeling of pressure from
the cuffs around your legs and buttocks. 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 begin to notice
that you have more energy.
The standard course of treatment is
one hour/forty five minutes per day, five days per week, for seven weeks (a
total of 35 one-hour sessions). Some patients have two treatments in one day in
order to complete the program more quickly. Some patients extend the program
beyond 35 treatments, depending on their particular medical situation and
goals.
- When can I expect to start feeling better from EECP?
Each patient responds differently.
Most patients begin to experience beneficial results from EECP about halfway
through the seven weeks. These benefits include increased stamina, improved
sleeping patterns, decreased angina, and less reliance on nitroglycerin and
other medications. There is variation, certainly, and some patients start to
feel better as soon as in their first week of treatment!
- How long do the benefits of EECP therapy last after a
course of treatment?
The International EECP Patient
Registry (IEPR) collects data on the safety, effectiveness, and long-term
benefits of EECP therapy. The IEPR data have shown that benefits of EECP
therapy can last up to three years after completing a full course (35 hours) of
treatment. Other smaller studies have shown the benefits last up to five years
in some patients. Benefits of EECP®, including less angina, less nitroglycerin
usage, and improved blood flow patterns documented on stress tests, had lasted.
- Can I have therapy more than once?
Yes. If your symptoms return, your
doctor will decide if you need to repeat your EECP treatments. EECP is not a
once-in-a-lifetime treatment. Heart disease is a chronic illness and symptoms may
return at some point in the future.
- What happens if I miss a treatment?
You are encouraged to come for your
EECP treatment every day. However, missing a day will not have a negative
effect on your overall results. When you come back, you will simply pick up
where you left off, and the missed treatment will be added to the end of your
program until you have a total of 35 sessions. Just like exercise, the more
consistent you are with your EECP schedule, the better your results will be.
- Can I exercise during the weeks I’m receiving EECP
Therapy?
Your doctor will discuss an exercise
program, how and when you should begin, and how much you should do. Exercising
can help you keep the benefits of your EECP treatments.
- Can everyone have EECP Therapy?
Your doctor knows your medical
history and condition and will determine if you can have EECP therapy.
- What are the risks of EECP Therapy?
Occasionally, patients develop mild
skin irritation in the areas under the treatment cuffs or experience muscle or
joint discomfort. Some patients feel tired after the first few treatments but
this usually ends after the first week. Rarely, patients develop shortness of
breath requiring hospitalization and treatment. Your EECP therapist is trained
to make your treatments safe and to minimize risk.
- How can I find out if I’m a candidate for EECP Therapy?
You have angina not adequately
relieved by medications. You have recurrent evidence of fluid retention and
dyspnoea (breathlessness) due to weak heart functions. You have already
undergone invasive procedures, but chest pain remains or has comeback. Your
cardiologist has determined that you are no longer a candidate for any invasive
procedure.
- Is EECP FDA-approved? What kind of research has been
done on it?
EECP was approved by the FDA in 1995
as a treatment for coronary artery disease and angina, cardiogenic shock and
for use during a heart attack. In 2002, the FDA approved EECP as a treatment
for congestive heart failure. It has undergone rigorous clinical trials at
leading universities and EECP has been the subject of more than 190 scientific
studies published in leading medical journals throughout the world.
- I have congestive heart failure (CHF). Is that a problem
with EECP?
No. In fact, in July 2002 the FDA
approved EECP as a treatment for congestive heart failure (CHF). After
completing a course of EECP treatment, patients with CHF typically have less
swelling in their legs, less shortness of breath, less fatigue and often
require less diuretic medication.
- I have already had bypass surgery / angioplasty /
stents. Can I still have EECP?
Yes! Most of our patients have
already had one (or more) of these procedures. They come for EECP treatment
because they still have angina.
- Is there an age limit for EECP?
No. We have successfully treated
patients as young as 36 and as old as 97 without any difficulties. Many of our
patients are in their 70’s and 80’s and complete the entire EECP program with
excellent results.
- Are there any patients who are not able to have EECP?
There are very few patients who are
unable to have EECP. Those who should not be treated include pregnant women,
individuals with a severe leakage in their aortic valve requiring surgical
repair and patients with an active blood clot in their leg. Please contact your
cardiologist to ensure that EECP is for you.
- Can EECP dislodge plaque and cause a stroke or heart
attack?
No. Our bodies obey the laws of
physics, and one principle law is that fluid will follow the path of least
resistance. Atherosclerotic plaques are calcified and hard and they create an
obstruction that diverts the blood through alternate routes. During EECP®, when
your blood is flowing to your heart, it will naturally bypass arteries with
plaque and enter healthy, non-diseased blood vessels to go around the
blockages. Going around the blockages is a longer trip, but it is a much easier
one. In time, these new pathways are reinforced and become lasting routes for
blood to reach your heart beyond the blockages. Every EECP patient has had
multiple, serious blockages. No one has ever had a heart attack or a stroke as
a result of the treatment.
- Does EECP aggravate high blood pressure (hypertension)?
No. If you have hypertension that is
properly managed, you may undergo EECP without difficulty. Oftentimes, patients
with hypertension find that their blood pressure improves as they proceed with
EECP. If your hypertension is uncontrolled, you must seek medical care to get
your blood pressure under control with proper medications before proceeding
with EECP.
- I have varicose veins. May I still have EECP?
Yes. Varicose veins are typically a
cosmetic issue, not a medical one. As such, they do not preclude individuals
from receiving EECP. We often use extra padding in patients with varicose veins
to ensure maximum comfort.
- I have atrial fibrillation and an irregular heartbeat.
May I still have EECP?
Yes. An irregular heartbeat,
including one caused by atrial fibrillation, will not interfere with EECP if
the heart rate is controlled and no faster than 100 beats per minute.
- I have bad circulation in my legs (peripheral vascular
disease or PVD). May I still have EECP?
Yes, and you should! EECP improves blood flow
throughout the entire body, including your legs. If you have poor leg
circulation, you might need more than 35 treatments. Patients typically require
additional treatments to get the full benefit of the program. In addition to
improved stamina, less angina, and less nitroglycerin use, patients with PVD
have a marked improvement in their leg circulation in response to EECP.
COME AND TALK TO US NOW
CALL US TO GET YOUR FREE EECP CONSULTATION AND FREE ONE EECP TRIAL SESSION.
Call En. Yazry Helmy - 019-6681786
En. Mohamad Khairi - 019- 4490786
WE are in KL and Penang
KL Phone 03- 4148 1786
Penang Phone 04- 656 4171
