What is EECP?

Developed at Harvard University 50 years ago, Enhanced External Counterpulsation is a nonsurgical therapy for heart disease, chronic fatigue, memory disorder, diabetic neuropathy, high blood pressure, Erectile Dysfunction, and other conditions involving poor circulation.

Sometimes referred to as “natural bypass”, EECP enhances the body’s ability to create new pathways for blood flow around clogged arteries. This highly-effective therapy also helps the body accelerate the formation of small blood vessels called collaterals, restoring healthy circulation to organs and tissues that have been deprived of blood and oxygen.

How Does EECP Work?
An EECP treatment begins lying comfortably 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. Each treatment session lasts about 1 hour, during which you can read, listen to music, or relax comfortably.

Angina Relief

Developed at Harvard University 50 years ago, EECP was originally used as a therapy for angina, the squeezing chest pain that occurs when the heart is not getting enough oxygen. Several studies conducted at leading university medical centers have shown that patients who undergo a course of EECP experience significant benefits, including

• Fewer episodes of angina
• Less intense episodes of angina
• Needing less medication
• The ability to walk farther without experiencing angina
• The ability to resume work and enjoy more social activities

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 several surgery for coronary artery disease. However, this therapy is so safe and effective that it can 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.

What Other Conditions Benefit From EECP?

EECP isn’t just a powerful therapy for angina. Virtually any condition in which poor circulation is a contributing factor can benefit from EECP. Here is just a partial list:

• Congestive heart failure
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Erectile dysfunction
• Chronic Fatigue/Adrenal Fatigue
• Hypertension
• Kidney disease
• Memory disorders
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Vision problems – including Macular Degeneration
• Sudden Deafness and Meniere’s Disease

Research Studies & Demonstrated Results

Angina
An international study group evaluated EECP’s effectiveness for patients with chronic stable angina at seven medical centers. After treatment, 85 percent of patients experienced a significant improvement in their angina symptoms, and 83 percent showed a measurable increase in blood flow to the heart. Exercise capacity also improved significantly. — American Journal of Cardiology, 2002; 89(7): 822-4.

Diabetes
Researchers from Harvard Medical School studied EECP’s effects on angina in diabetic patients with or without congestive heart failure. EECP was equally effective in both groups. On average, 70 percent of patients experienced a significant reduction in the severity of their angina. The number of angina episodes per week decreased by an average of 10 percent. Nitroglycerin use also declined. — Abstract #689-P, 62nd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, San Francisco, California, June 15, 2002.

Eye Disease
German researchers studied the effects of EECP on blood flow to the eyes in elderly patients with diagnosed coronary artery disease. They measured blood flow through the ophthalmic artery, a major vessel that provides two-thirds of the retina’s blood supply. After EECP, patients experienced an average improvement of 11.4 percent in blood flow through the ophthalmic artery. — Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 2001; 239(80); 599-602.