2023-06-07 15:16:20
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Cardiologists explain that a strong cough is not helpful in the event of a heart attack, contrary to claims that are repeatedly circulating on social media. If you suspect a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Losing time with other techniques in the event of a heart attack is life-threatening, according to experts.
A Facebook post outlines a scenario in which someone, traveling alone, experiences heart attack symptoms. The post recommends coughing “deep and prolonged” repeatedly. “Deep breaths bring oxygen to the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating,” is recommended online.
The claim is circulating for years on social media. The recommendation also spread in numerous languages, e.g English, French, Swedish and Greek.
Dangerous recommendations are constantly spreading regarding measures to help in the event of a heart attack. AFP has previously addressed the false claim that punches to the inside of the arm are an effective remedy for a heart attack.
This also includes the cough advice. As several cardiologists told AFP, there is no evidence that coughing would help with a heart attack. Instead, patients who are showing symptoms of a heart attack should call the emergency number to get medical help quickly. Coughing would most likely lose important time for those affected to call for help.
What is a heart attack?
At a Heart attack the heart is no longer supplied with blood properly because a vessel is blocked. As a result, the heart muscle cells die due to insufficient oxygen supply. The heart muscle then lacks the strength to supply the body. If the affected area is very small, a heart attack can even occur unnoticed expire. In the worst case, it leads to cardiac arrest. Coronary artery disease is the most common worldwide cause of death.
A heart attack becomes noticeable through oppressive or burning pain behind the breastbone, pain in the chest, arms, shoulders and jaw up to the neck, back or upper abdomen. The symptoms can be very different, so first signs often not recognized properly. The classically described symptoms of a heart attack are Women for example, often differently pronounced.
Coughing doesn’t help with a heart attack
Thomas Voigtlander is a cardiologist, Medical Director of the Agaplesion Bethanien Hospital in Frankfurt am Main and Chairman of the Board of the German Heart Foundation. On May 30, he made the statement to AFP clear on the widespread recommendations: “It is life-threatening to lose time by using such dangerous breathing and coughing techniques when an acute myocardial infarction is suspected.” On the contrary, he warned: “In the worst case, coughing and increased breathing can even worsen the oxygen supply to the heart muscle and put additional strain on the heart in the event of a heart attack.”
Instead, you should alert the emergency services as soon as possible. That also advises them German Heart Foundation (archived version) online. International experts agreed.
“Coughing has never been shown to be effective in reducing the extent of a heart attack or its consequences, including the underlying risk of cardiac arrest,” said Nicolas LamblinHead of the Department of Emergencies and Critical Care in Cardiology at the University Hospital of Lille in France, in a telephone interview with AFP on July 25, 2022.
“Cough resuscitation plays no role in a heart attack,” added Allen J. Taylorchairman of cardiology at MedStar Health in the US, in a telephone interview with AFP on July 27, 2022. “The extra blood flow when coughing is minimal and most people can’t sustain a cough for more than 15 seconds anyway,” he adds and warns that “the extra effort of coughing certainly does not help the patient”.
Dimitrios Farmakis, Associate Professor at the University of Cyprus Medical School, also confirms that the claim has “no scientific basis”. “Anyone who thinks they are having a heart attack should seek immediate medical attention and call emergency services,” he wrote in an email to AFP on July 21, 2022.
“If a person feels like they’re going to have a heart attack when they’re home alone, they should call 911 and try to alert people nearby who might be able to help,” Lamblin said. “It’s best to open the door and stay there, because if the door is locked, rescuers lose time getting in.”
In the event of a cardiac arrest, the person affected loses consciousness completely, Lamblin explained. “If people are present, they must call 911, stay close to the victim, and prepare to begin chest compressions in case the patient collapses and loses consciousness.”
Also several medical schools, like the University of Chicago (archived version), dieMcGill University (archived version), as well as the Cleveland Clinic (archived version) have refuted the claim.
Cough as a treatment technique
However, experts state that in certain cases, coughing can be useful for a person with a heart condition.
According to the American Heart Association (archived version) can cough, for example cardiac arrhythmias be used temporarily in controlled hospital settings such as a cardiac cath lab, where patients are conscious and constantly monitored.
Taylor gives another example: “We use cough-pulmonary resuscitation when we’re doing an operation and the heartbeat has stopped.” If you ask the patient to cough a few seconds before losing consciousness, “the medical staff has a few seconds to revive the patientbut that can only take place in a fully controlled hospital environment,” he said.
Christina Chrysohooua cardiologist and member of the Hellenic Society of Cardiology, told AFP on July 21 that this method may be used in a Bradycardia might help. This is a condition where the heart beats too slowly and can be associated with some cases of heart failure. In the event of a heart attack in connection with another disease, such as Rupture of the aortahowever, coughing might hasten death, she warned.
Ignatios IconomidisAssociate Professor of Cardiology at the University of Athens, told AFP on July 22 that coughing at a rapid cardiac arrhythmia can help, but “not with a severe coronary episode”.
Coughing is useless during a heart attack. “We say to cough if you’re choking, if you’ve almost drowned, or if you’ve inhaled something. But if you suspect you’re having a heart attack or cardiac arrest,” don’t heed that advice, Lamblin said .
Conclusion: During a heart attack, every minute can be crucial. If you suspect a heart attack, experts advise calling the emergency services as soon as possible. Losing time with coughing techniques is therefore life-threatening.
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