When the heart muscle doesn’t receive enough oxygen-rich blood flow, one may feel a tight squeeze or pressure within their chest. If ignored, this discomfort may spread to the rest of the upper body including the neck, shoulder, jaw, arms and back. This pain is called angina and it usually happens due to an underlying heart condition such as Coronary Heart Disease. It is caused by a blockage or narrowing of one or more of the coronary arteries. Patients who endure these symptoms are often referred to Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) therapy. At LifeWorks Wellness Center, EECP is one of the most popular treatments recommended for patients suffering with various heart conditions. But what exactly is this treatment, and how can it benefit the cardiovascular system?
What is EECP Treatment?
EECP is a non-invasive mechanical procedure that is administered with the use of three pairs of external inflatable cuffs that are applied around the lower legs, upper legs and buttocks. Patients are instructed to lay on a bed while the cuffs compress the blood vessels in the lower limbs in order to increase blood flow to the heart. The cuffs continuously inflate and deflate in sync with the patient’s heartbeat. The purpose of the treatment is to increase blood flow and oxygen to the heart, decrease previous chest pain and allow the heart to function normally. A computer uses a patient’s electrocardiogram (ECG) to properly execute the correct inflation and deflation cues.
The History of EECP
EECP treatment originated in the 1960s with the work of W.C Birtwell, and after periods of trial-and-error experimentation, it has been thoroughly refined. Initially, the treatment involved the insertion of catheters into the femoral arteries of animals and drew blood during the systole phase. The blood would re-enter the body during the diastole phase of the heartbeat to facilitate diastolic coronary flow and reduce arterial wall stress¹. While this did prove to be effective, the treatment was not feasible nor practical due to the dangerous destruction of red blood cells. Eventually, this led to the creation of the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) that allowed the inflation of a balloon in the aorta in between each heartbeat, thus enabling the blood flow and increasing the amount that the heart receives and pumps out. A few years later, researchers ultimately decided to take it a step further as the IABP seemed somewhat invasive and complicated.
Instead, they created external counterpulsation, which exerted pressure from the outside of the lower body during diastole. Within a few years, EECP became an asset to patients suffering from angina, acute myocardial infarction, and cardiogenic shock. While, initially the treatment was more widespread in China, it eventually made its way to the United States and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995. As of 2021, there are about 1,200 EECP machines nationwide, with LifeWorks Wellness Center owning one of them.
How It Benefits the Cardiovascular System
Multiple studies have proved that EECP therapies are extremely effective in treating chronic stable angina, improves exercise tolerance in those with coronary artery disease, restores oxygenated blood flow to the heart and promotes development of new blood vessels within the body. There have also been multiple reports of patients recovering from their heart conditions with a long-lasting effect of five years or more, with approximately 1 in 5 patients eventually returning for another round of therapy. Verywell Health, an award-winning medical publisher, also stated that there has been evidence suggesting that EECP can “induce the formation of collateral vessels in the coronary artery tree by stimulating the release of nitric oxide and other growth factors”².
Who Needs EECP?
Those who seek treatment for their cardiovascular conditions, but want to avoid invasive procedures such as stents or bypass surgeries may find EECP as a useful alternative. The procedure is normally recommended to those who suffer from symptoms of angina, however, it can also be extremely beneficial in treating other cardiovascular conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
Another surprising fact about EECP is that it can assist in treating non cardiovascular related issues such as dementia, autoimmune disease, kidney disease, memory loss, and Parkinson’s disease.
Before Treatment
Prior to receiving an EECP treatment, patients must speak to their medical physician about their heart condition to determine whether the treatment is appropriate for them. An EECP technician will not perform this procedure on anyone without a referral from a specialized LifeWorks practitioner. While EECP is useful for many, it is not suggested to everyone based on certain medical factors such as:
- Having an enlarged heart
- A congenital heart defect
- Atrial fibrillation
- A pacemaker
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Recent cardiac catheterization
Before your treatment, let your technician know if you are taking any supplements such as blood thinners or iron. Before your treatment appointment, it’s critical to not have been administered heparin either orally or intravenously.
If you are suffering from cardiovascular conditions or have further questions regarding the EECP treatment, please call 727-466-6789 or contact us online.
Helpful Heart Health Resources
- Heart Health - our complete page on heart health / cardiovascular treatment.
