Most people know of open-heart surgery and angioplasty as the treatment for treating heart blockages. Approximately 1 million cases undergo angioplasty in the US alone every year. Many patients, despite undergoing surgeries, get recurring chest pain and often find relief with EECP(Enhanced External Counter Pulsation) treatment. EECP is USFDA approved non-invasive, non-pharmacological, safe, effective treatment for helping heart patients relieve chest pain. It consists of 35 sittings and each sitting of one-hour duration. The patient lies on the special bed and is tied with three pairs of inflatable cuffs on calves, thighs and buttocks. When the cuffs are sequentially inflated, there is an increase in blood supply to the heart. Several research studies have proved increased blood supply to the heart after 35 sittings.
Dr. Pratiksha Gandhi, MD, India’s first woman preventive cardiologist, introduced for the first time the use of EECP in primary cases in her IPC Heartcare Centers located in Mumbai, India. There are many people who do not wish to undergo open-heart surgery or are not fit to undergo the surgery for medical reasons. EECP Treatment became a hope for such cases. The late President of India, Dr. APJ Kalam, applauded her work, who was very much interested in finding out cost-effective, non-invasive ways to treat heart ailments.
She wanted the world to know the marvels of EECP therapy for heart health. In the last two decades, open heart surgeries have declined and more non surgical options are being made available to heart patients. Since the major research and developments of EECP happened in the US, Dr. Gandhi established herself in Los Angeles, California. Her vision is to help as many people as possible with this novel non-invasive treatment for heart health. In addition, she educates on heart health with her non-profit Global Foundation for Preventive Cardiology (www.gffpc.org), which has many free resources for true seekers of heart disease prevention.
EECP has become freely available and a very popular therapy in Asian countries with all the pioneering work done by many doctors, including Dr. Gandhi and her colleague Dr. Prasad Kamble. In the US, where the original research had begun, the popularity is lacking due to the lack of support from mainstream hospitals. The surgical industry and the regulations favor invasive procedures. There is a drastic need for reforms in the US healthcare system, especially in cardiac care, where billions of dollars are spent on the treatment of heart diseases and heart failure. EECP could be saving so many lives; however, the necessary research and funding in this direction is lacking. This therapy is grossly sidelined by the mainstream cardiologists who are simply focusing on the procedures of angioplasty and surgeries they have learned during medical school. Why should people be subjected to so much invasive heart surgery with so many complications when simple procedures can save lives? EECP could be the primary treatment in the future as Dr Gandhi is thoroughly convinced with her original research and patient experiences in the last two decades. Whenever commerce takes over science, patients suffer! This is precisely happening now as with the increasing cost of healthcare, people are getting scared of hospitals and falling sick. If you wish to play your role in improving healthcare, first educate yourself on heart health. Know your options. Work with open-minded physicians who think holistic and take care of your interest first. Unless there is an empowerment of patients and they assert their rights, we cannot have a healthcare revolution needed in this country. To learn more on EECP, visit www.ipcheartcentre.com
