“There have been many studies through the years suggesting there may be some benefit. Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce blood clotting, inflammation, relax blood vessels and possibly help stabilize the heart’s rhythm. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish are what make this supplement so popular. Sorrentino warns patients about expensive over-the-counter supplements that purportedly improve the heart’s overall function, but probably have no benefit at all. Debunking other heart mythsĬough CPR isn't the only internet rumor that consumers should approach with caution. If you or someone else is properly trained, start CPR and, if available, use an automatic external defibrillator (AED). So what should you do if you’re having a cardiac event or you’re with someone else who is? The best initial response is to call 911. Simply coughing will not always correct an irregular chaotic rhythm, and it cannot prevent the patient from going into cardiac arrest. “But most patients that go into cardiac arrest are going to go into a more chaotic rhythm.”Ĭhaotic rhythms are what prove the method false. “Some rhythms could lead to cardiac arrest, and I think that’s why people thought, ‘Oh, if the cough will prevent the cardiac rhythm maybe it will help the cardiac arrest,’” Sorrentino said. But Sorrentino notes that most heart rhythms are more complex than a single cough can handle. In this instance, it seems like the method works successfully. “And when we tell the patient to cough really hard that could terminate the rhythm.” “We would occasionally see that in the intensive care unit or in a cardiac catheterization lab someone would go into a ventricular arrhythmia or supraventricular arrhythmia ,” Sorrentino said. Where did the idea of cough CPR come from?Īccording to Sorrentino, the idea was initially supported by anecdotes and case reports. When these two things occur, the subtle change in blood flow and the electrical system can terminate or break the arrhythmia. When the system is stimulated it has an impact on the heart’s electrical system. 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. Sorrentino notes that when a person coughs there is a change in intrathoracic pressure, which is the pressure surrounding the lungs. The answer is a bit tricky and doesn’t have a precise answer. How does coughing stop a heart attack or fix an arrhythmia? Internet myths have resurrected the idea that coughing can stop a heart attack in its tracks or fix an irregular heart rhythm.ĭoes “cough CPR” really work? We talked with University of Chicago Medicine cardiologist and professor of medicine Matthew Sorrentino, MD, about where this particular myth comes from, and what he thinks about other rumors about heart health.
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