(From Health Cares, Rochester General Hospital via
Chapter 240s newsletter AND THE BEAT GOES ON)
(reprint from The Mended Hearts, Inc.publication,
Heart Response)
Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart
attack, this article seemed to be in order. Without
help, the person whose heart stops beating properly
and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10
seconds left before losing consciousness. However,
these victims can help themselves by coughing
repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should
be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep
and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep
inside the chest. Deep breaths and a cough must be
repeated about every two seconds without letting up
until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be
beating normally again. Deep breaths get oxygen into
the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and
keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on
the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this
way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.
Tell as many other people as possible about this, it
could save their lives!