MASON CITY, IA – Mason City Clinic Mercy Heart Center is the first facility in the state of Iowa to provide Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECPâ ) as a non-surgical, outpatient treatment that can relieve or eliminate angina.

"In the United States, more than seven million people suffer with angina," said Samuel Congello, D.O., Chairperson, Invasive Cardiology. "In many cases, EECPâ is an effective option that does not require patients to undergo invasive procedures."

Angina is the most common symptom of coronary artery disease. Usually triggered by physical exertion or emotional stress, angina occurs when the heart muscle needs more oxygen from the blood supply nourishing the heart. This usually happens because narrowed or blocked arteries are restricting the flow of blood to the heart muscle.

Through extensive research, EECPâ therapy has been shown to benefit people who suffer from angina. The term Enhanced External Counterpulsation describes what happens during treatment. "Enhanced" refers to the state-of-the-art technology that has developed during decades of research and used today. EECP is "external" because it happens outside the body and does not require surgery or other invasive procedures. "Counterpulsation" occurs between heartbeats.

The EECPâ system compresses a patient’s lower limbs to increase blood flow toward the heart. Each wave of pressure is electronically timed to a heartbeat, so that the increased blood flow is delivered to the heart at the precise moment it is relaxing. When the heart pumps again, pressure is released instantaneously. This lowers resistance in the blood vessels of the legs so that blood may be pumped more easily from the heart, decreasing the amount of work required of the heart muscles. During counterpulsation the EECP system pumps when the heart is resting and releases pressure when the heart is working.

Cardiologists at Mason City Clinic evaluate each patient to determine if they may be eligible for EECPâ treatment. The patient may be a good candidate for EECPâ treatment if:

• he/she has angina
• nitroglycerin does not provide adequate relief from angina
• he/she is not a candidate for bypass surgery or angioplasty
• he/she underwent bypass surgery or angioplasty in the past, and the angina has returned
• he/she wants to explore all treatment options

The treatment is easier to tolerate for most people and costs far less than traditional, invasive procedures. It also is performed on an outpatient basis. Patients typically attend one-hour treatment sessions once a day, five days a week for seven weeks.

Studies have shown that treatment benefits can last for at least three years. For many patients, EECPâ treatment can reduce or eliminate the frequency and intensity of chest pain or eliminate it altogether, decrease the need for medication, and greatly improve the ability to participate in activities of everyday life. After receiving EECPâ treatment, patients often are able to enjoy moderate exercise for the first time since they developed angina.

Westbury, N.Y.-based Vasomedical, Inc, is providing treatment guidance, staff training and EECP® equipment for the new program offered at Mason City Clinic.

For more information about EECPâ and the Mason City Clinic Mercy Heart Center, call 641-494-5300 or 1-800-622-1411.