Can coughing loudly and continuously when having a suspected heart attack save your life?

It is a myth that people who are alone and suspect they are having a heart attack should cough loudly and repeatedly to save themselves. This is false information that can have serious consequences.

Coughing hard and continuously does not help people with heart disease - Photo: TEMPLE HEALTH

Some Facebook posts claim that coughing hard can save a person's life if they are having a heart attack while alone.

Posts claim that coughing "continuously and forcefully" can help because "deep breathing oxygenates the lungs and coughing movements increase blood circulation and the heart."

Experts at the fact-checking site FullFact said on October 17 that this was false information. They cannot save a person from a heart attack and the posts circulating do not contain useful medical advice.

There is a myth that coughing can help someone having a heart attack, sometimes called "cough CPR." However, this is a misconception that has been circulating since at least 1999.

The British Heart Foundation says "cough CPR is a dangerous misconception". It says there is no medical evidence to support "cough CPR".

False post about CPR on Facebook - Photo: FACEBOOK

A 2021 study by the University of Warwick (UK) on CPR alternatives found that "cough CPR" has no benefit in saving lives, and is not actually a CPR method.

If someone thinks they or someone else is having a heart attack, the best thing to do is call 911.

Additionally, in the event of sudden cardiac arrest that causes the patient to collapse and stop breathing, CPR should be performed after calling for emergency help.

However, CPR should not be performed on someone who has had a heart attack, which is usually caused by a blood clot. Symptoms of a heart attack can include chest pain, nausea and difficulty breathing. In this case, call an ambulance. Chewing and swallowing aspirin (if not allergic) may help, but the patient needs to be treated in hospital.

Misinformation spread widely on social media can be harmful if people rely on it to make decisions about their health, causing treatment to be delayed and conditions to become more serious.

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ANH THU

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ho-manh-va-lien-tuc-khi-nghi-bi-dau-tim-co-giup-cuu-song-ban-than-20251018111415258.htm