Heart disease kills approximately 1 million lives every year. It is the number one cause of death for both men and women. Every 33 seconds someone dies of a heart related disease. The treatment for the different heart-related diseases has evolved over the years. Twenty years ago, open heart surgery was the only treatment for myocardial infarction or blocked coronary arteries. Then the angioplasty and stint surgeries were developed, making the treatment less invasive. Now a patient with angina or blocked coronary arteries has a totally noninvasive option for treatment.
EECP is a new noninvasive treatment utilized in medical centers all over the country. EECP stands for Enhanced External Counterpulsation. (www.myclevelandclinic.org). Medical centers that utilize EECP include the Cleveland Clinic, Beth Israel Medical Center, the Mayo Clinic, NYU-Langone Medical Center, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and many others. In these centers, it is primarily used on patients for which surgery is not an option. The treatment is FDA approved and covered by most insurances.
Developed by Sara Soulati, Global Cardio Care offers physician-managed outpatient centers that utilize the EECP treatment. The primary purpose of the Global Cardio Care centers is to treat, prevent, and reverse cardiovascular disease. They are located in Inglewood and West Los Angeles, Calif. and have been in business since 2002. EECP is part of the Sara Soulati Health For Life Program.
EECP therapy is a non-invasive therapy and involves no medications. Every patient must go through 35 hours of education and treatment. EECP pumps blood from the legs to the heart while the patient rests on a comfortable table or bed. The result is to improve circulation throughout the body. During the EECP treatment, cuffs that resemble blood pressure cuffs are wrapped around the patient’s calves, thighs, and buttocks. These cuffs are attached to hoses that are able to inflate the cuffs.
During EECP, the patient is hooked up to a heart monitor to synchronize the heartbeat and the inflation of the cuffs. When the heart is at rest, the cuffs inflate, compressing the blood vessels in the legs and buttocks. This action increases the return of blood flow to the heart, which reduces its workload. When the heart contracts, the cuffs deflate. One of the most positive results of EECP is the formation of collateral circulation. Collateral circulation is the formation of new, smaller blood vessels that are able to bypass blocked coronary arteries and deliver oxygenated blood to the heart.
The net result is improved cardiovascular function due to the delivery of more oxygen to the heart muscle. EECP is intended for patients who have angina, diabetes, and high blood pressure. It is also recommended for those who have suffered stroke, myocardial infarction, (heart attack), and other health conditions such as obesity, kidney failure, and any other condition that involves circulation. Patients who undergo EECP report having more energy and are able to resume a more active lifestyle. Cells require oxygen and nutrients for optimal function, and that is what EECP delivers.
New, noninvasive treatments for multiple diseases have been developed in recent years. One of the most exciting treatments is EECP. Its effects are far reaching and affect multiple organ systems. One of the most important is the cardiovascular system. The heart can be described as the master pump, directing the flow of blood to all organs, muscles and tissues, including the heart itself. In other words, the heart is responsible for its own maintenance and survival. If the coronary arteries that deliver life-giving substances to the heart become blocked, the very life of this master pump is in jeopardy.
That is where EECP comes in. It puts power in the circulatory system, aiding the heart in providing for other organ systems, as well as the heart. It is a prescription for health and life that does not involve the risks of invasive surgery. Sara Soulati and the staff at Global Cardio Care Centers understand the total body wellness that EECP provides. They seek to restore and maintain health for the whole person.