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Supporting Local: Bridge EECP helping hearts in Lethbridge

Jul 7, 2021 | 2:41 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Bridge EECP which stands for Enhanced External Counter Pulsation has been helping hearts in Lethbridge for years.

The local heart specialists at Bridge EECP help treat many different heart disorders which improves heart function and circulation.

Owner and Operator, Miranda Reimer explains how important the heart can be for our health as humans.

“Your heart isn’t just responsible for providing oxygen and nutrients to your body it’s also responsible for taking away all the waste products as well.”

From the EECP website, the therapy is explained below.

Each person simply lies down on a comfortable treatment bed and relaxes as three sets of “blood pressure cuffs” that are wrapped around your legs and buttocks quickly inflate and deflate sequentially to your personal heartbeat.

Nap, listen to music, or chat as your body gets increased blood flow to all its organs, eliminates toxins, grows new arteries, and regains flexibility in existing arteries.

Each EECP treatment is like an endurance workout for your body, as has many of the same benefits as a high-intensity workout. EECP has been called the “exercise for people who cannot exercise”. You can also find it referenced in literature as “bridging the gap.”
Each treatment is one hour long and includes a health assessment.

EECP Therapy has been shown to have the following benefits:

  • Increased blood flow to the coronary arteries, and decreased workload of the heart (Similar to the mechanism of an intra-aortic balloon pump)
  • Stimulate the release of growth factor hormones (like VEG-F), which can promote angiogenesis (the growth of collateral blood vessels around narrowed ones) “Natural Bypasses”
  • Stimulate the increased release of the hormone Nitric Oxide, which opens up and relaxes arteries, resulting in lowered blood pressure, and more flexible arteries
  • Decrease in frequency and severity of angina
  • Increase in exercise tolerance/improvement of cardiovascular fitness

Reimer is thankful she opened up shop in the city due to a high number of people needing help with their hearts.

“I had seen how it was really really benefitting people and really changing the lives of our patients and just improving the quality of life and these were people in some cases were sent home to die… and I’m just thankful I can help them.”

For more information on Bridge EECP, go here.