What does EECP stand for?
EECP stands for Enhanced External Counter Pulsation. It is a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment intended to pump more oxygenated blood to the heart, and reduce the symptoms of heart disease such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
What's the difference between EECP and ECP?
You might hear us use one term or the other, but in a nutshell, EECP and ECP are the same.
How long do the benefits of EECP Flow Therapy last?
Documented research has shown benefits lasting three to five years after EECP Therapy treatment. These benefits include less anginal episodes, decreased nitroglycerin usage, increased blood flow on stress tests, and increased exercise tolerance.
Can EECP dislodge plaque and cause a traumatic event?
No. Our bodies follow the laws of physics, and one principle law is that fluid will travel in the path of least resistance.
Atherosclerotic plaques are calcified and hard, and they create an obstruction that detours the blood through alternate routes. During EECP Therapy, when your blood is flowing to the heart, it will naturally bypass arteries with plaque and enter healthy, non-diseased blood vessels to go around blockages. Throughout the EECP Therapy cycle, these new pathways are reinforced and become lasting routes for blood to reach your heart muscle beyond blockages. Almost every Flow Therapy patient has multiple blockages; no one has ever had a heart attack or a stroke as a result of the treatment.
EECP approved by the 510K? Have there been extensive studies on the treatment?
Yes and yes! EECP was 510K approved in 1995 for the treatment of coronary artery disease and angina, cardiogenic shock, and for use during a heart attack. In 2002, the 510K approved EECP as a treatment for congestive heart failure. EECP has undergone clinical trials at leading universities around the nation and been subject to over a hundred scientific studies published in the most prestigious medical journals throughout the world.
How long does EECP Flow Therapy take?
EECP Therapy is administered on a standard regimen of one hour a day, five days per week for seven weeks. This totals thirty-five one-hour treatments to complete a full course of Flow Therapy.
What if I miss a treatment?
You are encouraged to make every scheduled treatment, but if you miss a day it will not have a negative outcome to your overall treatment. We'll simply add another treatment onto the end until you reach the thirty-five completed sessions.
Is there an age limit for EECP Flow Therapy?
No. Patients as young as 30 and as old as 95 have successfully completed EECP Therapy without any complications. Many of our patients are in their 80s and older, and have excellent results.
Does a pacemaker exclude me from having EECP Flow Therapy?
No. Pacemakers and defibrillators do not interfere in any way with EECP Therapy treatments.
If I have already had bypass surgery, angioplasty, or stents, can I still have EECP Therapy?
Yes. Most of our patients have had at least one of these procedures. They come for EECP Therapy because they still experience cardiovascular symptoms.
Who cannot have EECP Therapy?
There are very few patients who cannot have EECP Therapy. Individuals who should not be treated include pregnant women, those with a severe aneurysm (thinned and bulging vessel walls) in their aorta requiring surgical repair, and patients with active blood clots in their legs.
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