EECP TherapyEECP is sometimes referred to as a "natural bypass" because it enhances the body's ability to create new pathways for blood flow around clogged arteries. What is EECP? Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) is a nonsurgical therapy for angina, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other conditions involving poor circulation. A Natural Bypass If you've been diagnosed with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetic neuropathy, or another circulatory disorder, you could benefit from a nonsurgical therapy called EECP. This therapy is sometimes referred to as a "natural bypass" because it enhances the body's ability to create new pathways for blood flow around clogged arteries. EECP greatly accelerates the formation of tiny blood vessels called collaterals, helping restore healthy circulation to organs and tissues that have been deprived of blood and oxygen. How Does EECP Work? During an EECP treatment, you lie on a bed wearing a series of adjustable cuffs around your calves, lower thighs, and upper thighs. The cuffs are inflated in sequence, placing pressure on the legs which pushes blood flow from the lower limbs up towards the heart. The inflation of the cuffs is timed to occur so that increased blood flow is delivered to the heart at the precise moment it is relaxing. Then, just before the heart pumps, the cuffs deflate, reducing resistance and decreasing the heart's workload. A treatment session lasts about one hour, during which you can read, listen to music, or relax comfortably. Most patients undergo 35 one-hour sessions, once or twice a day, over the course of a few weeks. EECP Relieves Angina EECP was developed at Harvard University almost 50 years ago as a therapy for angina, the squeezing chest pain that occurs when the heart is not getting enough oxygen. This most common symptom of coronary artery disease can be extremely disabling, interfering with the ability to work, exercise, or enjoy social activities. By encouraging the formation of collaterals around blockages in the coronary arteries, EECP enhances the heart's supply of oxygen and reduces chest pain. Several studies conducted at leading university medical centers have shown that patients who undergo a course of EECP experience significant benefits:
Unlike drugs that are prescribed for angina, EECP is completely safe and without side effects. And unlike angioplasty and bypass surgery—highly invasive surgical interventions that are used to clear or circumvent blockages in the arteries—EECP can be done on an outpatient basis and requires no post-treatment recovery period. Many patients undergo EECP after suffering a heart attack or enduring one or even several surgeries for coronary artery disease. In some cases, EECP is their only option. Yet this noninvasive therapy is so safe and effective that it should be considered as a first-line treatment for angina, not just a last resort after surgery has been ruled out. For a growing number of patients, opting for EECP before consenting to a potentially dangerous surgical procedure is an obvious decision. In less time than it takes to recover from bypass surgery, these patients can complete a full course of EECP and begin enjoying an active, pain-free life.
Real-Life Success Stories Click here to read about how other people just like you used EECP to get back on the road to health. Additional Information Click here to read more about EECP. Contact Us To learn more about becoming a patient and receiving EECP at the Whitaker Wellness Institute, contact a Patient Services Representative at (800) 488-1500 or click here. Come See UsThe Whitaker Wellness Institute is located near the Orange County/John Wayne Airport in Newport Beach, California. If you are looking for a place to receive EECP therapy in Orange County, call (800) 488-1500 to make an appointment today. |
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It is important that you do not reduce, change, or discontinue any medication or treatment without first consulting your physician. Dr. Whitaker offers his recommendations only as "generally informational" and not as specifically applicable to any individual's medical problem(s), concerns, and/or needs.