05/16/2025
There is a Cough CPR post being sent around Facebook and we wish to dispell this myth as it is dangerous.
Let us explain:
When coughing there is a change in intrathoracic pressure, which is the pressure surrounding the lungs. That change affects blood flow to the heart and also interacts with the nervous system, especially the vagus nervous system, which links the heart, lungs and abdomen to the brain.
When the system is stimulated it has an impact on the heart’s electrical system.
When these two things occur, the subtle change in blood flow and the electrical system can terminate or break the arrhythmia.
This is ill advised as it is Not being done in a controlled or monitored environment ( AED or monitors).
You could make things worse and be very detrimental to recovery.
Therefore….
- Johns Hopkins
-Mayo Clinic
-Red Cross
-Heart and Stroke Foundation
….and many others…. STRONGLY DISCOURAGE the coughing Myth and reinforce the following steps.
What should you do if you are alone and have a heart attack?
1. Call 911 The most important thing to do when you suspect a heart attack is to call emergency medical services.
Always call 911 before you attempt to contact anyone else. Calling 911 will almost always be the quickest way to get treatment. Even if you live in an area that an ambulance may have difficulty getting to, the emergency dispatcher can provide you with instructions on minimizing the damage.
2. Consider contacting someone to come over immediately. If you have a trustworthy neighbor or relative who lives nearby, make another phone call asking that person to come to meet you. Having another person nearby can be helpful if you suddenly go into cardiac arrest. You should only do this if the emergency dispatcher permits you to get off the phone or if you have a second line you can call on while the dispatcher stays on the first line.
***Do not rely on another person to get you to the hospital. Wait for emergency paramedics to show up.***
3. Chew on aspirin. Chew and swallow a single 325-mg or two tablets of baby aspirin 81-mg.
Chewing on aspirin is especially effective if done within 30 minutes of your first symptoms. Aspirin inhibits platelet development. Taking aspirin can delay the formation of blood clots that could further block your arteries during a heart attack. Chew the aspirin before swallowing it. By chewing the aspirin, you release more of the medicine directly into your stomach and hasten its ability to get into your bloodstream.
***Do NOT use this treatment If you are on a medication that interacts poorly with aspirin or have otherwise been told by your doctor not to take aspirin or if you are allergic to aspirin.***
4. Do not attempt to drive. Driving yourself to the hospital is not recommended.
If you begin to experience heart attack symptoms while driving, immediately pull off to the side of the road.
If you suffer from a cardiac arrest, you will pass out. This is the main reason why driving while suffering from a heart attack is not advised.
5. Remain calm.
As frightening as a heart attack is, rushing around or putting yourself into a state of panic can worsen the problem.
6. Relax as much as possible to keep your heart rate steady and calm. Count as a way of slowing your heartbeat. Make sure that your counts are slow, using the standard one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand counting.
7. Lie down. Lie on your back and raise your legs upward. This opens up the diaphragm, making it easier for you to breathe and supply oxygen to your blood.
Make the position easier to maintain by propping your legs up on pillows or another object. You could also lie down on the floor with your legs propped up on a couch or chair. Make your way carefully if you cannot immediately lie down or sit, such as working on a ladder or crossing traffic.
If you feel dizzy or unable to walk correctly, watching a fixed object such as the horizon or a large fixed object might help calm you and help you control the situation until help arrives.
8. Take deep, steady breaths of fresh air.
Even though your instinct might be to take rapid breaths when you experience a heart attack, the best way to maintain a constant supply of oxygen to your blood and your heart is to take slow, deep breaths.
Consider lying down in front of an open window, open door, fan, or air conditioner. Providing yourself with a consistent stream of fresh air can help supply your heart with oxygen.
9.
Do NOT attempt Cough CPR.
A common myth is that you can survive a heart attack alone by coughing in a particular manner. This probably won't work, and worse still, attempting this technique may put you in more danger.
Attempting this procedure on your own can cause you to accidentally work against the rhythm of your heart and make it harder to get oxygen into your blood rather than easier.
10. Avoid food and drink. Eating and drinking are probably the last things on your mind when you experience a heart attack, but just in case, you should avoid food and drink even if you want them.
Having anything other than aspirin in your system can make it more complicated for paramedics to give you adequate treatment.
If necessary, you can swallow “a little water” ONLY to help you get the aspirin into your system, but even this should be avoided if possible.
11. Follow-Up: Talk to your doctor about what to do in the future. Suffering a heart attack increases your risk of experiencing a heart attack in the future. When you survive your heart attack this time, you should talk with your physician to discuss improving your chances of survival if you should suffer from one again.
Your physician can prescribe medications for treating cardiac problems, including:
Nitroglycerin to help widen the blood vessels and lower pressure on the arteries.
Beta-blockers to block the hormones responsible for triggering stress responses in the heart and surrounding cardiac tissue.
Blood thinners to lessen chances of blood clots and anti-stickiness meds for platelets, both of which help prevent future heart attacks due to blockage of the arteries in the heart.
12. You should get treatment for your heart attack within the first hour of your initial symptoms. If you wait longer than that, your heart will have more difficulty repairing the damage/cell death in the muscles of the heart.
The ultimate goal is to have the constricted artery back open within 90 minutes to minimize damage as much as possible.
It is also essential for you to talk to your doctor about reducing your risks of experiencing other heart diseases through diet, exercise/cardiac rehab, sleep, and other lifestyle changes.
Contact Ross today to book your
First Aid CRP C with AED, BLS courses and any Wilderness First Aid Courses
Use the word “MYTH” and get 25% off.
A great deal to book your course today!
Email: [email protected]
Call: 343-263-9900
