![\"EECP](\"https:\/\/cardiologyaltoona.com\/temp\/wp-content\/uploads\/eect-therapy1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEECP Therapy provides clinically significant relief of angina and symptoms of heart failure that may last for up to several years. Cardiology Associates of Altoona offers the 35-hour EECP Therapy program on an outpatient basis at our office to provide relief from chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Treatments are noninvasive and are typically prescribed for one hour each weekday for seven weeks.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
EECP Therapy works to reduce the frequency and severity of angina (chest pain) by increasing the oxygen and blood supply to the heart muscle. It also decreases the workload of the heart during therapy, giving your heart a welcome rest period. You will lay down for your therapy session and be fitted with large inflatable cuffs (similar to blood-pressure cuffs) that will be wrapped around your buttocks and legs. The cuffs inflate from calves to buttocks in between heart beats to assist the movement of blood to the arteries of the heart, and deflate just prior to the next heartbeat. Your therapy is programmed via electrocardiogram to set the proper timing. A sensor will be placed on your finger to monitor your oxygen level, as well as the pressure of the inflations and deflations of the cuffs. You are encouraged to watch TV, listen to music, or nap during the procedure, as desired.<\/p>\n
EECP Therapy has been described as a \u201cpassive exercise,\u201d so you may initially feel more tired than usual for the first few sessions if you do not regularly exercise. We refer to this as the \u201ctraining period.\u201d However, most of our patients report significant improvements in energy level and overall well-being by their third or fourth week of therapy. Take action for your heart health today. EECP Therapy may give you the boost in energy needed to begin living a more active lifestyle.<\/p>\n
Many of our patients have mentioned how much they enjoy the benefits of EECP Therapy. Aside from eliminating or reducing the frequency and intensity of angina attacks and heart failure symptoms, EECP Therapy has increased our patients’ energy levels, ability to perform daily living tasks and activities, and generally enabled our patients to enjoy a much better quality of life. With these come a more positive outlook that is beneficial to all spheres of life.<\/p>\n