Pump away your chest pain with EECP

By Ronald Hutapea

JAKARTA (JP): A middle-aged woman visited a cardiologists when she found herself exhausted after exercising. When the doctor told her she had a slight heart problem, she decided to take a drug-free treatment at the Harapan Kita Cardiac Center in Jakarta.

She decided to take part in Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (EECP).

EECP is a new and revolutionary nonsurgical, noninvasive and drug-free procedure for treating chest pain. It is a mechanical procedure that can reduce chest pains, presumably by increasing blood flow to the heart.

The sounds of machines pumping can be heard from her room on the second floor of the Preventive Cardiology Building at the center. Like other EECP participants, she lied on the bed and was strapped into a contraption hooked up to an EECP unit, which is equipped with a digital monitor.

There are an average of 30 patients undergoing EECP during the week. On Saturdays, the number often reaches 40.

Most patients are middle-aged and come from all over the country. Some have only slight heart problems, but others have more serious conditions. A 54-year-old executive from Jakarta was advised to have the treatment because he had been diagnosed as having a constricted coronary artery, but was not mentally ready for a heart operation.

A 63-year-old man who had triple-bypass surgery a few years ago was advised to take the treatment to improve his condition.

Heart disease is the number one killer worldwide and in Indonesia. It is becoming a greater threat here because more of the younger population is succumbing to it. Preventive care should be a priority for all concerned and new ideas for drugs and procedures to avoid premature death should be considered.

Until a few years ago, people with a heart condition had to undergo bypass surgery to graft new vessels onto arteries. Alternatives such as invasive procedures, which carries considerable risks, are always being researched.

Many countries have now introduced newer and safer procedures. Despite facing controversy within the medical profession, these centers for alternative programs are flourishing in many places. Some advertise in major publications and in the Internet.

In a tourist resort on Carbon Island, the Dominican Republic, the Global Medical Health Center and Resources, offers a package consisting of EECP, medical tests and rehabilitation activities.

In Jakarta, the Harapan Kita Cardiac Center began providing EECP five years ago. Dr. Sjukri Karim of the center said that over 700 patients have undergone this treatment. He said about 85 percent have experienced improvement.

The hospital will hold a seminar on EECP on Nov. 1.

The first sign of heart problems is often chest pains, angina pectoris. A normal heart receives oxygen-enriched blood from blood vessels called coronary arteries. In some people, the coronary arteries can become narrowed or obstructed due to cholesterol or other causes. Therefore, during exercise or a stressful situation, a sufficient amount of oxygen-enriched blood is unable to reach some parts of the heart. In many cases, this can result in chest pain.

The benefit of EECP in people with angina pectoris appear to be sustained between treatments and may persist long after completion of a course of therapy. Some patients report pain-free periods of up to five years after completion of treatment. New blood vessels, called collaterals, are believed to be created, which bring additional oxygen-enriched blood to the heart muscle resulting in eradicating chest pain.

Another benefit of EECP is that, so far, no complications or side effects have been reported.

More information on EECP can be found on the Internet at http://www.vasomedic.com.

Procedures

During EECP treatment, the patient lies on a bed wearing pressure cuffs (similar to a blood pressure cuff, only larger) around the calves and the lower and upper thighs. EECP applies a computerized series of pulsatile pressure to these cuffs and forces blood flow towards the heart, which increases blood flow to the heart. The recommended treatment involves 36 one-hour sessions over a period of six weeks to seven weeks.

People experiencing frequent chest pains during exercising, or diagnosed with coronary artery disease, might consider this program. It could be particularly helpful to those recovering from heart disease, who have a high risk factor for this disease or to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Patients recovering from bypass surgery, a heart attack, angioplasty or diagnosed with angina may also benefit from the program.

Dr. Raymond Suwita, who is in charge of the facility's day-to- day operations, is optimistic that EECP would help people who are looking for a noninvasive treatment for their heart problems. With EECP now widely found in the U.S., China and Europe, it is expected that in Indonesia, EECP will also expand not only in Jakarta but also in other parts of the country.

The writer is a Jakarta-based doctor and health educator.