Why isn’t EECP used more often?
There are several reasons EECP is not widely used in the United States. Doctors are busy and often focus on the traditional therapies they know best, like stents and bypass surgery, even though some studies show that these invasive procedures often don’t relieve the symptoms of cardio insufficiency or increase life expectancy.
EECP is a highly regarded therapy in other countries of the world, but, as an article in Life Extension Magazine, affirms, it is largely ignored in the US, in spite of hundreds of studies that show EECP’s “overwhelming effectiveness and unquestioned safety” which could save countless lives and billions of dollars. Some experts say EECP should be the first choice for treating heart disease, long before surgery or other invasive procedures are used. As one noted cardiologist says, Prevent Don’t Stent. See, Doctors Ignore Proven Alternative to Coronary Stents and Bypass Surgery, Life Extension Magazine in linked studies.
Lack of treatment availability also may be a factor. Not all communities have EECP clinics or equipment. Patient travel time can be a barrier to keeping appointments and completing a full course of therapy, but as studies continue to show the benefits of EECP therapy, it is becoming more common in the United States as well.
How does EECP therapy work?
During EECP therapy, the client lays on a padded bed with pressurized cuffs wrapped around the lower and upper legs and the buttocks. The cuffs synch with the heart by means of an EKG, inflating each time the heart relaxes and pushing blood back toward the heart. This makes it easier for the heart to pump, and increases the flow of blood to the heart and body. This increased supply of blood, helps relieve chest pains, fatigue and shortness of breath.
EECP also encourages the growth of new capillaries that form “natural bypasses” which carry blood around clogged arteries. While stents and surgery can open the main arteries of the heart when blocked, capillaries, too small to stent, are essential to supply oxygen and nutrients to organs throughout the bod. Finally, EECP helps reduce inflammation, which can damage the endothelial lining of artery walls, leaving them vulnerable to plaque and disease.
How do I prepare for EECP Therapy?
You will be more comfortable if you don’t eat or drink an hour or two before therapy. Please use the nearby toilet just prior to your appointment.Wear a comfortable top or shirt. We will provide you with a pair of snug, seamless athletic pants to change into when you arrive to avoid any wrinkles beneath the cuffs.
The therapist will take your weight, blood pressure and pulse and ask a few questions about how you are feeling, any reactions following your previous session and any questions you may have. You will lie on a padded bed with pillows to support your head and back. You are welcome to bring headphones to listen to music or a book during therapy, or you may want to lie quietly and relax. Please tell your therapist if the cuffs need to be adjusted, need more padding or develop a hot spot. Your comfort is important to us! Most people love the energy and sense of well being they feel after therapy.
Is EECP therapy a common procedure?
Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide have received EECP therapy. Many of the major health centers of India, China, South Africa and other countries of the world offer EECP therapy, not only to treat heart disease but other vascular diseases as well. As studies continue to demonstrate how safe and effective counter pulsation is at relieving heart disease, EECP is becoming increasingly popular. Clinical studies also show that EECP can help relieve some of the symptoms of Long Covid and other vascular diseases, which is a very promising development.
What is the recovery time from EECP Therapy?
EECP is a non-invasive, outpatient therapy that requires no recovery time. You can resume your normal activities immediately after treatment. You may feel a little more tired than usual the first week of therapy as your body adjusts to a new form of exercise, but that usually passes quickly. Many people have more energy and a general sense of well being following a week or two of therapy. Tell your therapist if you are experiencing any hot spots, discomfort or side effects. Such problems can often be resolved by adjusting your position or tucking padding inside a cuff.
Do I need a referral to come to Thrive EECP therapy clinic?
No referral is necessary for clients who wish to request an initial Thrive EECP consultation. Interested clients will be asked to complete a medical history. If questions arise, you may want to consult with your medical provider or our consultant will seek a physician consent/referral on the client’s behalf.
What if I don’t have heart disease?
While hundreds of studies have shown that EECP is a highly effective treatment for heart disease, it also is proving beneficial in the treatment of other vascular conditions. It’s now used to treat peripheral artery disease, Parkinson’s, kidney failure, erectile dysfunction and cerebrovascular disease. EECP not only improves blood flow, but initiates a series of protective mechanisms that may help boost exercise tolerance and decrease inflammation.
What if I have had stents or open heart surgery?
Many of our patients have had one or more of these procedures. Medicare and the FDA specifically approved EECP therapy to treat individuals who have advanced heart disease or heart failure and who have not gotten relief from stents and bypass surgery or are too frail for additional invasive procedures. Many of these people seek out EECP therapy because they still suffer from chest pains, fatigue and other symptoms of heart disease.
How long do the benefits from Thrive EECP therapy last?
Studies have shown that three to five years after EECP therapy some people continue to have reduced severity and frequency of angina, less fatigue and shortness of breath and have less need to use nitroglycerin than prior to therapy. Some study participants also showed increased exercise tolerance and blood flow during stress tests three to five years after EECP therapy. Whether these benefits might last longer isn’t known since no studies have been conducted to measure whether the benefits continue beyond five years.
What is a standard course of treatment for EECP?
Most early EECP studies treated trial participants for one hour, five times a week for seven weeks for a total of 35 sessions. This became the norm and is considered a standard course of treatment. Some studies have shown benefits after fewer sessions of EECP therapy – depending upon individual circumstances.
Data from the International EECP Patient Registry (IEPR) that includes over 10,000 coronary patients suggests that even one session of EECP treatment can result in an improvement of angina symptoms and quality of life. The benefits from one session of therapy were found to continue for up to 3 years. Stroke and ED patients were found to benefit from as few as 10 treatments. See Expert Consensus of the Clinical Application of EECP in Elderly People. Https://pubmed.ncbi.nih.gov/32232188/
Some Thrive EECP’s clients have found, however, that they feel better and have fewer symptoms if they continue having weekly maintenance sessions following a regular course of 35 treatments, particularly when treating a disease such as Parkinson’s.
At Thrive EECP we work with clients to provide whatever course of treatments best meets their needs and preferences.
What if I have to miss a session?
You are encouraged to make every scheduled treatment, but if you miss a day it will not have a negative impact on your overall treatment. We’ll simply schedule another session until you reach the desired number of treatments. Since we have a limited number of appointments and usually have a waiting list for the available spots, we do ask that you cancel at least 24 hours in advance.
