Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Save Yourself from having a Heart Attack

As a biology major on my way to pre-med (hopefully) I read a very interesting email today that stated an article that says a person can save themselves from a heart attack. The article describes what to do if you are ever alone and are having a heart attack. The John City Medical Center Staff did the research on this topic and did an in-depth study on this very problem.

The article says that if you are ever alone, say driving home from work or something, and begin to feel severe pains in your chest that radiate up your arm and into your jaw, then you are most likely suffering a heart attack. Considering often many people are unfortunately alone when they experience a heart attack, a person has only about 10 seconds before they lose consciousness after feeling their heart beating improperly and feeling faint. However, a victim can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. The article states that a deep breath must be taken before everyt cough, and the cough must also be deep and prolonged. This cycle of a breath and a cough must be repeated about very two seconds without stopping until the victim begings their heart rate going back to normal or help arrives. The reason this seems to work is that deep breathing gets air into the lungs and deep coughing causes the heart to contract resulting in circulation of blood as well as heping regain rhythm.

I know this is not very writing/reading related, but I thought it was very interesting anyway.

7 comments:

NickK said...

Good to know!

Coughing has other little known uses as well. I've read that coughing when one gets stuck with a needle helps relieve the pain.

I also vaguely remember an article that stated that you are better off in a mall than a hospital if you have a heart attack. Hard to believe, eh? Something to do with many people and defibrillators around perhaps? I don't quite remember.

Edward G Pettit said...

As a committed smoker, one day I could have a heart-attack because of my smoking. Then I could use my smoker's cough to help save my life. Oh, the irony.

Jean Marie said...

Wow, I never ever thought of it in that way. Wouldn't that be crazy if smoking actually saved you're life?

Amy said...

Haha, I like the idea of using an ailment to cure an ailment. Although I don't plan on having a heart attack very soon, I appreciate the advice.

Eric_Donovan said...

Yea, that's some pretty interesting advice. I would wanna share it with anyone I know at risk! Thanks!

zach birch said...

that sounds like great advice. My only question is how were they able to conduct the research? I know that weirder things have been studied, I am just curious to know how the info was gathered. But if I do find myself having a heart attack I will try this just in case.

Brandon said...

That is some amazing advice to give to people who are currently at risk to have one. This is the first time I have ever heard of something like this but it is rather awe inspiring.