Posted By admin on December 5, 2009

Holidays, stress and hearts discussed by local cardiologist
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ED BLOCHOWIAK
Dr. Sudhir Gupta, cardiologist, left, explains the technique of ECP therapy with the assistance of Susan Williams, licensed practical nurse.

By Johnna Ray
johnna.ray@news-star.com
Posted Nov 28, 2009 @ 10:11 PM

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SHAWNEE, Okla. — Holiday stress can have significant effects on a person’s health and enjoyment of the season but stress is not the primary cause of heart attacks during the holidays, as many might believe it to be.
“Stress does not precipitate a heart attack, but extra stress brings on a hidden problem,” Dr. Sudhir Gupta, a cardiologist at Shawnee Heart Center, said.
Hidden problems that are considered primary causes for heart attacks include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and a family history of heart attacks at a young age, Gupta said.
“These have not changed; nothing has changed in the causes,” he said. “The most important thing is prevention and focusing on those four things you can change. There is a big misconception today that there are ‘new’ causes for heart attacks and that is not true. The relative importance of those four things is not understood by most people.”
Gupta said symptoms, such as angina, which is chest pain, are only one part of the problem and stressed that heart attacks can occur sometimes with no prior warning.
“Perfectly healthy-looking, active people, who are not obese and who do not smoke, can have heart attacks, but those are only about 10 to 15 percent of the people who have heart attacks,” he said. “We are still researching why those people have heart attacks.”
Although many people believe stress, lack of exercise and obesity cause heart attacks, the doctor said they are not the cause of the problem but rather are associated with the root of the attack because they can lead to the four, preventable primary sources.
“A basic check-up can help find these causes and prevent a heart attack,” Gupta said. “You don’t need a heart specialist to find them.”
Gupta has dedicated a large portion of his life to cardiac care and said he puts his “whole heart” into caring for his patients. This passion for their care led him to invest nearly $70,000 on a piece of equipment that can help alleviate chest pain, shortness of breath and low energy experienced by only a handful of his patients.
“I’m very excited about it,” he said. “It’s really a unique treatment and it really works. It’s the kind of treatment that is needed and it’s available right here.”
The equipment, called an External Counterpulsation Therapy machine, is not typically available in private offices and Gupta said only major facilities have the equipment in Oklahoma because of its expense. But the expense did not deter him from purchasing the ECP equipment, which he researched for several years.
“I got into this because with a few of my patients, I didn’t have anything else to offer,” he said. “Some had heart blockage, bypasses, take all the medicines and still had angina. A lot of people keep going with angina and think they just have to live with it. I wanted to do something more for them. There’s no better job than helping those in need.”
The machine arrived at Shawnee Heart Center a few months ago and already three patients have completed the 45-day therapy. Another two patients are currently receiving the therapy and one stopped the sessions because of the time commitment.
“It requires a time commitment of being able to come to the office every day or every other day for about six weeks,” Gupta said. “Each session takes about 45 minutes to an hour and 10 to 25 sessions are needed for it to be fully effective. It takes about five to six sessions before the first improvements are seen.”
The ECP therapy involves the use of several cuffs that are attached to the patient’s calves, thighs and hips. The cuffs pump at specific times, which helps introduce more oxygen-rich blood into the heart.
“It’s physical therapy for the heart,” Gupta said. “It is the same technique as the intra-aortic balloon pump, which was first. That really saved lives, but was very invasive. In place of that, they came up with this technique and the timing is so accurate — it offers great efficiency.”
Although the treatment “can greatly improve quality of life for patients with angina, low energy and shortness of breath,” Gupta said there are a few angina sufferers who cannot have treatment.
Those who are not good candidates for the therapy are those who have clots in the legs that could be released into the heart by the pumping of the machine, those who have very bad aorta leakage, those with very weak hearts or those who cannot lie on their backs for long periods of time, he said.
“Those who are candidates for the therapy experience less angina, less shortness of breath and have more energy after a few sessions,” Gupta said. “There are no age restrictions. It can greatly improve quality of life. People need to know they don’t have to suffer with angina.”
The procedure is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare, he said.
Gupta became a cardiologist in 1985 and began his practice in Shawnee two years later. He is board certified in the sub-specialities of interventional and nuclear cardiac care, as well as pacemaker defibrillation care.
For more information about the ECP therapy or other cardiac-related symptoms, call Shawnee Heart Center at 273-0406.

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