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Congestive Heart Failure

August 23, 2010 By 1 Comment

MedicineNet.com has been providing fresh information about congestive heart failure since 1996. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart’s function as a pump is inadequate to deliver oxygen rich blood to the body. Congestive heart failure can be caused by:

  1. diseases that weaken the heart muscle
  2. diseases that cause stiffening of the heart muscles
  3. diseases that increase oxygen demand by the body tissue beyond the capability of the heart to deliver adequate oxygen-rich blood

What causes Congestive Heart Failure?

Many disease processes can impair the pumping efficiency of the heart to cause congestive heart failure. In the United States, the most common causes of congestive heart failure are:

  • coronary artery disease
  • high blood pressure (hypertension)
  • longstanding alcohol abuse
  • disorders of the heart valves

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Can ECP Help Against Depression After Heart Attack ?

July 2, 2010 By 4 Comments

There are several factors that can lead to depression after heart attack. The stress of being in the hospital, the fear of another heart attack, time away from work can all contribute to feeling depressed, helpless, down and despondent.

Recent studies show that as many as 65% of people who have a heart attack report feeling depressed, down and despondent. A general state of despair. Moreover, women, people who have been depressed before, and people who feel alone and without social or emotional support are at a higher risk for feeling depressed after a heart attack. Two new Canadian studies have shown that More than twice as many women than men tend to fall into chronic depression after suffering a heart attack and are more likely to lead lives of poorer quality following their treatments. [Read More]

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Coronary collateral growth by external counterpulsation: a randomised controlled trial

July 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Patients and methods

“Twenty patients with chronic stable coronary artery disease were studied. Before and after 30 h of randomly allocated ECP (20 90 min sessions over 4 weeks at 300 mm Hg inflation pressure) or sham ECP (same setting at 80 mm Hg inflation pressure), the invasive collateral flow index (CFI, no unit) was obtained in 34 vessels without coronary intervention. CFI was determined by the ratio of mean distal coronary occlusive pressure to mean aortic pressure with central venous pressure subtracted from both. Additionally, coronary collateral conductance (occlusive myocardial blood flow per aorto-coronary pressure drop) was determined by myocardial contrast echocardiography, and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation was obtained…”

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ECP and EECP ® Are Not the Same

June 30, 2010 By 1 Comment

Check out what CardiaMedics ® is saying about ECP vs. EECP ®.

“There has been much discussion in the world of cardiac medicine as to the differences between EECP® (Enhanced External Counter Pulsation) and that of ECP (External Counter Pulsation). Many incorrectly assume that EECP® is an improved version of Cardiomedics, Inc.’s CardiAssistT ECP system and thereby provides more therapeutic value to a cardiac patient.

The official governmental definition for both EECP® and ECP is exactly the same and is defined as a non-invasive treatment for patients with coronary artery disease that suffer with angina (chest pain), congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiogenic shock, and myocardial infarction. Coverage for ECP is provided only for patients who are diagnosed with angina (class III or Class IV or equivalent classification) and who, in the opinion of a cardiologist or cardiothoracic surgeon, are not readily amendable to surgical intervention.”

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