Home β€Ί Clinical Evidence Library β€Ί Lung Disease & Respiratory
Pulmonary

When breathing difficulty is a circulation problem

Lung disease impairs pulmonary circulation and right heart function. EECP reduces right heart afterload, improves pulmonary perfusion, and has shown improvements in dyspnea and exercise capacity.

↑6MWT
Six-minute walk test distance improves in COPD patients after EECP
↓Dyspnea
Breathlessness scores reduce with improved pulmonary perfusion
↓PVR
Pulmonary vascular resistance decreases in pulmonary hypertension
Non-invasive
No bronchodilators, no supplemental oxygen required during treatment
Mechanism of Action

How EECP works for Lung Disease & Respiratory

STEP 01
Diastolic augmentation

Cuffs inflate in diastole, driving a wave of blood retrograde through the aorta β€” increasing coronary perfusion pressure and delivering oxygen-rich blood to ischemic tissue.

STEP 02
Nitric oxide release

Increased shear stress on the endothelium triggers release of nitric oxide β€” the body's master vasodilator β€” improving vessel tone and reducing inflammation.

STEP 03
Angiogenesis

Repeated sessions stimulate VEGF and other growth factors, promoting the formation of new collateral blood vessels in ischemic tissue.

STEP 04
Systemic vascular improvement

Endothelial function improves throughout the body β€” not just at the heart β€” producing benefits in peripheral, cerebral, and microvascular circulation.

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Research & Articles

Clinical evidence and patient resources

Click any headline to read the full article. New research and patient stories are added regularly.

Peer-Reviewed Research

Related Studies

4 studies

Peer-reviewed studies, RCTs, and meta-analyses from the EECP clinical evidence library relevant to Lung Disease / COPD. Click any title to access the source.

RCT
EECP Significantly Improves Exercise Endurance in Healthy Volunteers (Zhao et al. RCT, n=72) β†—

Zhao M et al. Β· International Journal of COPD / Dove Medical Press Β· 2020

Cohort
EECP for Long COVID: 231-Patient Series β†—

Shah SA, Sathyamoorthy M, Fox J et al. Β· American Journal of Cardiology Β· 2024

Cohort
EECP vs. Untreated Long COVID Controls β†—

Fox J, Sathyamoorthy M, Shah SA et al. Β· MDPI Coronaviruses Β· 2024

Cohort
EECP for Long COVID Respiratory Symptoms (Sathyamoorthy et al.) β†—

Sathyamoorthy M et al. Β· American Heart Journal Plus Β· 2024

View all research studies in the library β†’
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page summarizes published clinical research and is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice and should not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. EECP is FDA-cleared for specific cardiac indications; use for other conditions is off-label and should be discussed with your physician.
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