ANGINA: Stents, Drugs, ECP, Lifestyle
The MAYO CLINIC speaks out!
Blocked arteries that cause your chest pain (angina), keep an area of your heart from getting enough oxygen. In many instances your doctor may recommend treatment of these blockages to avoid a heart attack or stroke, and other health complications.
There are several options for treating angina, all of which depend on your health condition, personal preference, and doctors recommendation. How do you choose? This article from the Mayo Clinic provides more information to help your decision!
One prospective treatment option the Mayo Clinic discusses is Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) therapy. EECP therapy might be recommended for some people whose angina doesn't improve with other treatments, or for those who are not good candidates (or decide to not move forward) with the more invasive options such as stent or bypass procedures. For this non-invasive therapy, large cuffs are wrapped around your legs. Air pressure causes the cuffs to inflate and deflate in time to your heartbeat which subsequently causes vasodilation and natural collateral arterial growth formation (many refer to this as a natural bypass), this means more arteries activate or "grow" around narrowed or blocked arterial areas, thus providing these areas with a greater source of oxygen.
This treatment is designed for high-risk patients, however provides health benefit to ALL who utilize it! It is additionally covered by many insurances. Ask your doctor today if you are a good candidate for EECP therapy!
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE MAYO CLINIC.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EECP CLICK HERE.
