Saturday, January 15, 2011

Heart-Attach Humbug Alert!


An idea has been doing the rounds on the internet that if you suffer a heart attack while alone, you can keep yourself alive and possibly restore a pulse by coughing.

The British Heart Foundation warns that this is based loosely on reports of cardiac patients who achieved some blood flow by coughing, much like chest compressions – but someone alone would be unlikely to keep themselves conscious long enough to drive to hospital, as the rumor suggest.

Vigorous coughing could do more harm than good. Anyone experiencing chest pain should call for help, especially if it lasts 15 minutes or more.

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