jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Posted by a friend -

When you are alone and have a heart attack, what are you going to do?

Let's say it's 5:25 pm and you're driving home after an unusually hard day's work. All of a sudden, you have chest pains. They are starting to radiate to the arm and jaw. It feels like you're being stabbed in the chest and heart. You're only a few miles away from the nearest hospital, but you don't know if you can make it.

Maybe you've taken CPR training, but the person running the course hasn't told you how to help yourself. A person who is feeling weak and whose heart is beating hard has only about ten seconds before losing consciousness. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help yourself.

Cough repeatedly and very strongly. Take deep breaths before every cough. Coughing should be repeated every second until you arrive at the hospital or until your heart starts to beat normally. Deep breathing gives oxygen to your lungs and coughing movements boost the heart and blood circulation. Heart pressure also helps to restore a normal heartbeat. This is how heart attack victims can make it to the hospital to get treated.

You should know that women have additional and different symptoms. They rarely experience crushing chest pain or pain in the arms. They often have indigestion and tightness across the back at the bra line, plus sudden fatigue.

Passing this information along could save a life.

As I said above, this was posted by a friend - not a doctor. I have heard about the coughing and deep breathing several times, though. Of course, eating right and getting enough sleep and exercise can help to prevent a heart attack.

Coughing -
https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/heart-and-vascular-articles/can-coughing-stop-a-heart-attack

More info -
https://www.google.com/search?q=coughing+for+heart+attack&sca_esv=a32461fe05b6239e&sxsrf=ACQVn08j465Rqyh6qnH3TcNgjTjlsBrtGQ%3A1710767910743&ei=Jj_4ZYj4LNmp5NoPw-SyqA0&ved=0ahUKEwiIo_OM8_2EAxXZFFkFHUOyDNUQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=coughing+for+heart+attack&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGWNvdWdoaW5nIGZvciBoZWFydCBhdHRhY2tI_RdQAFi1DHAAeACQAQCYAVugAfEEqgEBOLgBA8gBAPgBAZgCBaACtQPCAgYQABgHGB7CAggQABgIGAcYHsICChAAGAgYBxgeGArCAggQABgFGAcYHsICCxAAGIAEGIoFGIYDwgIIEAAYCBgeGA2YAwCSBwM0LjGgB4km&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Related - a friend drives a big concrete truck. He suspected that he was having a heart attack, so he drove to a nearby hospital. He got there just in time, and he's fine now.

crafterwantabe Loc: Mn

👍🏻👍🏻

rrozema Loc: Sacramento, California

Coughing is if you suffer cardiac arrest which is different than a heart attack (myocardial infarction).

John Matthews Loc: Wasilla, Alaska

If you have a cardiac arrest you are not going to cough you are already dead.

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

When I had my heart attack back in 2007 I really didn't have any pain. I just felt funny and I rubbed the back of my neck and head. After I rubbed my head my hands were soaking wet, and I knew I was having a heart attack. This happened in the waiting room at a hospital while I was waiting for my wife to have a port put in her chest for iron injections. So they had me to the ER quickly and then surgery to have two stents put in. I lucked out.

Tdearing Loc: Rockport, TX

Good informational post.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I can imagine a scene in a comedy.

Young EMT: "This man's heart has stopped!"

Older EMT: "Remember your training, Bill. Cough vigorously."

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

after having two MIs, my suggestion is to call 911, unlock your door (so the EMTs can get in), chew up a couple of Asprin if you can find them quickly, and lie flat with your feet up and breathe deeply until help arrives. If you have nitro glycerin tablets (from previous heart issued), put one under your tongue. (and stick your cellphone in your pocket)

halraiser

Well, you are already dying. Your brain and muscles can function for a very brief time because of the oxygen they already have. I don't know if coughing would help though, probably not, it takes a lot of external pressure on the heart to move blood around the body. Maybe you would have enough to dial 911 on your cell phone. Even if you can't talk, that would tell the dispatcher that something is wrong and most cell phones nowadays are GPS equipped so responders would have a good chance of finding you, though that would take time.

rrozema Loc: Sacramento, California

I have been involved in care of patients that suffered cardiac arrest and were able to maintain some consciousness for a short while by coughing vigorously

Toby

Thanks for the excellent info Jerry. I am on the waiting list at the Cleveland Clinic for a valve replacement. I am told that they do more valve replacements than any place in the US. 20 years ago, I had a quadruple bypass which I am told makes valve surgery more difficult. That is why I am being sent to CC. I am hoping for the robotic procedure. On a slightly different subject, I was told to quit taking CoQ10.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've read that CoQ10 is a load of hokum (medical term 😊).

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

I will be in a pickle if I ever have a heart attack... I developed an allergic reaction to aspirin/nsaids several years ago. Facial swelling, and hives!

Ruthlessrider

A better solution is pull over, put your hazards on and call 911. I have a good friend who failed to do this and ended up on someone’s front yard, dead.

JBuckley

Good advice.
Trying to remember the [life saving] technique might get lost in moments of sheer panic and fear.
So……make it a habit of practicing (mentally), a few times each week.

I’m sure I’ll remember that?