Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle develop deposits of calcium and cholesterol, leading to plaque and atheroma formation.
The leading causes are smoking, excessive alcohol, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol in the blood, and mental stress.
Symptoms
Symptoms depend upon the extent, intensity, and acuteness of blockages.
- Chronic Stable Angina: chest heaviness, breathlessness, sweating on activity — typically resolves on rest.
- Unstable Angina: when symptoms increase in intensity or frequency, or occur at rest.
- Acute Heart Attack: similar symptoms at rest that don't resolve with usual medication.
Treatment Options
Treatment of CAD is standard, though must be individualized. Modalities include:
- Lifestyle modification and medication
- Lifestyle modification and intervention (angioplasty/stenting)
- Lifestyle modification and non-interventional therapeutic (EECP)
An acute heart attack is an emergency and needs to be treated like one. Either injections to open the blocked artery or balloon angioplasty with stenting are the best options.
When is EECP Recommended?
You may be a candidate for Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (EECP) if:
- You have angina not adequately relieved by medications
- You have recurrent breathlessness due to weak heart function
- You have already undergone invasive procedures but chest pain remains
- Your cardiologist has determined you are no longer a candidate for invasive procedures
EECP is a non-invasive, outpatient treatment. Blood pressure cuffs wrapped around the legs squeeze and release in sync with your heartbeat, promoting blood flow and developing new pathways around blocked arteries — which is why it is often called the natural bypass.
The standard course is one hour per day, five days per week, for seven weeks (35 sessions total). Most patients begin to experience benefits between their 15th and 25th session.
Originally published in Times of India (29-Sep-2018)
