Clinical studies, patient guides, and answers to the questions people ask most about EECP and heart health.
You had the procedure and the blockage is gone, so why does your chest still ache? Cardiologists call it refractory angina. Here is why it happens and how EECP treats the root cause.
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2012 by the National Library of Medicine. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Improved pharmacological, invasive, and surgical therapies for cardiovascular diseases over the last few decades have led to an increase in life expectancy of individuals with angina. […]
If you’re experiencing chest pain despite medical therapy, these natural approaches to treating angina may be for you. The most common symptom of coronary heart disease, and at times other heart diseases is angina, which occurs when the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood and oxygen. Angina oftentimes feels like pain or discomfort (typically squeezing) […]
Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) is a non-invasive, FDA-approved outpatient therapy to reduce the intensity and frequency of angina-related chest pain. EECP treatment is administered through three sets of cuffs that are applied around the calves, thighs, and buttocks. The cuffs inflate and deflate synchronized with the heartbeat using an electrocardiograph (ECG). EECP increases blood flow to the […]
Ranolazine and EECP are both used for patients with chronic stable angina. Learn the difference between both. Chronic Stable Angina affects more than 10 million people in the US. Despite being on appropriate medications, patients may continue to experience chest pain. Individuals who continue to experience angina despite optimized medical therapy may be prescribed ranolazine or referred […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2012 by the National Library of Medicine. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Clinical effects of enhanced external counterpulsation treatment in patients with ischemic heart failure Objective: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive treatment that is proven safe and […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2011 by the American Journal of Cardiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Effects of enhanced external counterpulsation on arterial stiffness and myocardial oxygen demand in patients with chronic angina pectoris Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive technique […]
This post is an excerpt from randomized study originally circulated in 2010. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Enhanced external counterpulsation improves peripheral artery flow-mediated dilation in patients with chronic angina: a randomized sham-controlled study Background: Mechanisms responsible for anti-ischemic benefits of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) remain unknown. This was the […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2010 by the J Pak Med Association. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) for refractory angina pectoris (RAP): results from a first case series Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) has emerged as a promising non-invasive modality […]
This post contains excerpts from an article originally published in 2010 by the Pharmacotherapy. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Impact of enhanced external counterpulsation on Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class in patients with chronic stable angina Study objective: To evaluate the true magnitude of benefit from enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2009 by the American Journal of Therapeutics. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Effect of enhanced external counterpulsation on clinical symptoms, quality of life, 6-minute walking distance, and echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function after 35 […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2009 by the National Library of Medicine. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Treatment options for refractory angina pectoris: enhanced external counterpulsation therapy Refractory angina pectoris, defined as angina refractory to maximal medical therapy and standard coronary revascularization procedures, […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2010 by the International Journal of Cardiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. A new treatment modality in management of patients with cardiac syndrome X: enhanced external counterpulsation Read the Full Article
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2007 by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Enhanced external counterpulsation and future directions: step beyond medical management for patients with angina and heart failure Between 25,000 and 75,000 new cases […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2007 by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Residual high-grade angina after EECP occurs in those with more severe angina and multivessel disease at baseline and is associated with cardiac events […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2007 by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. The Role of Enhanced External Counter Pulsation Therapy in Clinical Practices Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) has been approved by the United States Food […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2007 by the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Enhanced external counterpulsation in patients with coronary artery disease-associated erectile dysfunction. Part II: impact of disease duration and treatment courses Introduction: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2007 by Angiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive counterpulsation technique that reduces angina and improves exercise capacity in patients with coronary artery disease. Diastolic coronary perfusion is augmented by pneumatic compression […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2007 by the International Journal of Clinical Practice. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Patients with refractory angina often suffer from erectile dysfunction. Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) decreases symptoms of angina, and increases nitric oxide release. This study evaluated […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2007 by the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Enhanced external counterpulsation in patients with coronary artery disease-associated erectile dysfunction. Part I: effects of risk factors. Introduction: Recently it has been demonstrated that enhanced external counterpulsation […]
This post is an excerpt from a clinical trial on Congestive Heart Failure originally published in 2007. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Patients with refractory angina and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction exert an enormous burden on health care resources primarily because of the number of recurrent emergency department (ED) […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2006 by the Nature Clinic Practice, Cardiovascular Medicine. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Over the past decade, the frequency of use of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) has increased in patients with angina, irrespective of medical therapy and coronary […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2006 by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. In this randomized, single-blinded study, EECP improved exercise tolerance, quality of life, and NYHA functional classification without an accompanying increase in peak VO2. […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2006 by BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. The results from the present study show that EECP is a safe treatment for highly symptomatic patients with refractory angina. The beneficial effects were sustained during a 12-months […]
This post is an excerpt from a review on Current Heart Failure Reports originally published in 2006. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Balloon counterpulsation has gained widespread acceptance as a therapy for cardiogenic shock. However, over the past four decades a parallel method of noninvasive counterpulsation, enhanced external counterpulsation […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2006 by Clinical Cardiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. The robust effectiveness of EECP as a noninvasive device, together with its relatively low start-up and recurrent costs, makes it an attractive consideration for treating patients with milder refractory angina in […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2006 by the Journal of Internal Medicine. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. This study shows that for patients who fail to respond to conventional measures, a high proportion gain symptomatic benefit from EECP. Background: Treatment of angina recalcitrant to […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2006 by the American Journal of Cardiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Two-year clinical outcomes after enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) therapy in patients with refractory angina pectoris and left ventricular dysfunction Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2005 by the American Journal of Cardiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. We assessed the frequency, efficacy, predictors, and long-term success of repeat enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) therapy in relieving angina in a large cohort of patients who […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2003 by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) has been shown to reduce angina and to improve objective measures of myocardial ischemia in patients with refractory angina. […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2003 by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. According to the articles reviewed in this study, an improvement in erectile function after EECP treatment courses has been observed in patients with […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 1999 by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Enhanced external counterpulsation reduces angina and extends time to exercise-induced ischemia in patients with symptomatic CAD. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to […]
This post is an excerpt from 2002 comparative study by Clinical Cardiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. This study suggests that, particularly for the majority of patients demonstrating improvement in radionuclide stress perfusion post treatment, EECP may be an effective long-term therapy. Background: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive […]
This post is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2013 by Clinical Cardiology. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article. Angina patients with AS who undergo EECP had clinically important symptomatic and hemodynamic improvements comparable to their non-AS counterparts Background: Comorbid aortic stenosis (AS) has been considered a precaution when […]
Living with angina is not easy. For most people, having episodes of chest discomfort is not only painful but can be a frightening experience. It can cause daily stress and worry for you as well as your loved ones. However, angina does not have to control your life! On the contrary, there is no reason […]
Having chronic lung disease, whether it’s COPD, emphysema, or asthma, can feel like a constant battle, especially when it is on top of other chronic health conditions. If this somewhat describes the way you feel, be encouraged. This guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to keep the symptoms of your […]
For many people with chronic conditions, living with pain and physical discomfort has become a way of life. Indeed, chronic pain is now one of the most common problems plaguing Americans, with 1 in 3 adults affected by it. With chronic pain, living a full and active life may seem out of reach. But it […]
Similar to having heart disease, diabetes is a chronic condition that, while serious, should not deprive you of a long and fulfilling life. With that said, the things that you do on a day-to-day basis can end up making a huge difference in how the condition affects your health and quality of life. This guide […]
When you have heart failure, your daily health habits–what you choose to do on a day-to-day basis–become very important. By adopting healthy lifestyle habits, you can prevent your heart condition from getting worse and even help improve your heart’s function over time. This guide will help equip you with the essential tools you need to […]
Controlling and managing your stress can, and should, be a tool to help manage your heart health. It is no secret that stress is a part of life. As most have experienced at one time or another, stress, in small doses, can actually be beneficial. When we are faced with an urgent situation, our body’s […]
If you’re like most people, chances are you have already been told of the harmful effects of tobacco use. But regardless of where you might be today–whether you have a desire to quit or have no intention of cutting down–it’s never too early to think about it…nor is it ever too late to start making […]
Legacy Heart Care & Trinity Heart Care Are Now Flow Therapy. Video Transcript: Hi, my name is Michael Gratch. I am the Founder and President of Legacy Heart Care, an organization I started well over a decade ago, along with Trinity Heart Care in the Dallas area. As many of you know, we have been incredibly […]
Getting regular physical activity is important for your health and is particularly important when you have heart disease. Many people with heart conditions are often hesitant or apprehensive when it comes to exercising, as they fear that it will trigger their symptoms or make them feel worse. If you currently have concerns about exercising or […]
EECP may play a role in managing ‘long COVID’ and post-COVID-19 symptoms. What is Long COVID? Long COVID is when patients have persistent symptoms for weeks, up to 9 months after testing positive for COVID-19. This population is generally termed as “COVID-19 Long Haulers,” suffering from “long COVID-19” or having “post-COVID Sequalae.” These individuals report non-specific symptoms, including fatigue, shortness […]
Findings to be Presented at American College of Cardiology 2021 Study Highlights: In an evaluation of 1382 patients, EECP significantly improves health status outcomes in patients with stable angina after 7-weeks of therapy. SAQ score improved by over 50% from baseline, with Rose Dyspnea Score and CCS angina class also improving. Further testing of EECP […]
If you’ve ever felt lightheaded or dizzy after standing up or getting out of bed, you may have experienced symptoms of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, also known as POTS. Normally, when you sit or stand, gravity works its magic and pulls your blood downward away from your heart and brain. We don’t feel this because […]
Everyone recovers from COVID-19 differently. Unfortunately, certain individuals experience Long COVID and require individualized treatment options for Long COVID. Globally, an estimated 50% of COVID-19 patients experience lingering symptoms six months after the acute phase of COVID-19 infection, with the long-term symptoms varying in severity. American College of Cardiology Long COVID symptoms can be varied […]
After picking up COVID-19, certain individuals struggle to overcome the disease completely and experience Long COVID symptoms for weeks (or even months) post-infection. Related Material: What is Long COVID? According to a recent Long COVID study, there are over 50 Long COVID symptoms that patients tend to experience. These symptoms can include everything from renal failure and […]
If you’re wondering, “How long does fatigue last after COVID?” – you’re not alone. Fatigue is the most common COVID-19 symptom, and many people are starting to figure out that it can linger for weeks. And in some cases, even months… This being said, how long can fatigue really last after testing positive for COVID-19, how can you […]
What is Long COVID? If you’re asking this question, chances are you’re hearing terms like “post COVID syndrome”, “COVID long haulers”, or “post-acute COVID-19.” Or maybe you or a loved one is experiencing new or lingering symptoms weeks or even months after a COVID-19 infection. And now you’re wondering, “What’s going on?” Whatever the case […]
Your heart works hard for you. So why not show it a little extra love? With a couple of good habits (and a few less bad ones), you can do a whole lot of good for your heart (and your life as a whole). Did you know that 659,000 people in the U.S. die from […]
After overcoming a COVID-19 infection, many people may still feel side effects for months. In fact, these lingering symptoms could persist up to six months or longer post-infection. Known as Long COVID, long-lasting COVID symptoms can manifest in a variety of ways. But in some studies, over 78% of patients specifically experience cardiac-related symptoms – with 60% of these patients […]
If you think you may be experiencing Long COVID symptoms, then you may also be wondering, “Is there a Long COVID test?” To answer this question, let’s first break down what Long COVID is and then discuss whether or not there are ways to test for Long COVID. What is Long COVID? People who have Long COVID […]
In short, yes, Long COVID is real. But, can you get tested for it, what are the symptoms, and how can you get treatment? Let’s break it down. Why is Long COVID real? Long COVID is also known as post-COVID syndrome (PASC) or Long Haul COVID. When someone is considered to have Long COVID, it […]
It’s a question on many parents’ minds these days: can kids get long COVID? While there is still much to learn about this virus, there is some information that can help answer this question. In this blog post, we’ll look at what we know about COVID and how it affects children. We’ll also explore ways […]
As the end of the COVID-19 pandemic inches closer, many professionals are assessing the long-term damage done by the virus. Economists, healthcare professionals, and other experts are already starting to weigh in on the long-term effects of COVID-19, and it’s clear that we’ll feel this illness’ impact for a long time. Long COVID is a new […]
Are you suffering from a long-term headache? If so, you’re not alone. A new study has found that as many as one in three people may experience a long-lasting headache due to COVID-19, known as a COVID long haul headache. But what is a Long COVID and how can you manage Long COVID symptoms, such as a […]
Do you know how to survive a heart attack if you’re alone? This could mean the difference between life or death. If you’re alone when you have a heart attack, your chances of survival are lower. This being said, there are certain steps you can take to increase your chances of making it through a […]
Heart failure is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While there is no cure for heart failure, there are many advancements in treatment that can help improve the quality of life for those who suffer from it. Let’s take a look at some of the latest treatments for heart failure, how they work, […]
If you have been diagnosed with angina, you might be wondering if physical exercise will help or hinder your symptoms. In this article, we discuss what angina is, give an overview of the common symptoms of angina and answer the question, ‘can angina be cured by exercise?’ What is angina? Angina pectoris, more commonly known […]
Coronary artery disease (CAD), also called coronary heart disease (CHD), is a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to and from the heart develop a buildup of fatty deposits. This buildup is called plaque, or atherosclerosis. It causes blood vessels to narrow, which reduces the blood flow to and from the heart. If […]
Both stable and unstable angina consist of chest pain that occurs because of a lack of blood flow to the heart. However, some key differences exist between the two types of angina. Understanding the difference between stable and unstable angina is essential for getting the proper treatment. Here, we’ll take a closer look at both […]
Angina is a frightening heart condition, and it is not uncommon to ask this vital question, can angina kill you? Unfortunately, angina is a symptom of coronary heart disease, and while it can’t kill you directly, it can be a symptom of heart trouble, and that can absolutely kill you. Here’s the good news, by […]
Can asphyxiation cause a heart attack? If you’ve been watching the news lately, you may have heard the phrases “asphyxiation” and “heart attack” mentioned alongside COVID-19. And now you’re wondering, “can suffocation lead to cardiac arrest?” The answer is yes. It can, but how it happens precisely is what we’ll explore in this article. Let’s look […]
If you have been diagnosed with non obstructive CAD, you may wonder, “Is non obstructive coronary artery disease dangerous?”, and the answer is yes. Non obstructive coronary heart disease, like other coronary artery diseases, isn’t without its risks or complications. Non obstructive CAD is a form of heart disease that often goes undetected. People with non […]
What’s the difference between a stroke and a heart attack? It can be hard to tell the difference, especially if you don’t know what to look for. However, both conditions involve serious health risks, so it’s important to know how to identify them early on. Let’s break down the key differences between a stroke and a […]
If you’re experiencing chest pain and wondering should I go to urgent care for angina, you’re not alone. It’s important to know when to go to the emergency department and when you can safely wait for an appointment with your primary care physician. While angina can be a serious condition, in many cases it can […]
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a serious condition that affects the heart. It can lead to a heart attack and in some cases, death. That being said, what is the survival rate for coronary artery disease? Unfortunately, there is no one answer to this question. The survival rate for CAD depends on a variety of […]
