“If we look at social media, it is widely circulated that when a heart attack occurs the patient must cough as hard as they can. If your heart stops suddenly, how can you cough, “
UNAIR NEWS – Lately, there has been trending news in the media about heart attacks. Some short messages about the first aid of a heart attack started to get viral through social media chat rooms like Facebook and Whatsapp.
It was about a suggestion to cough hard and repeatedly; coughing must continue until help arrives or until the heartbeat returns to normal; take a deep breath every time before coughing. The short message also explained that taking a deep and deep breath would draw lots of oxygen to the lungs so that the cough could press on the heart and keep the blood circulating.
Furthermore, heart attack sufferers are also asked to maintain consciousness by scratching the pinky finger with the thumb. The information was conveyed in detail so at first glance it seemed convincing.
Cardiologist Agus Subagjo Dr., Sp.JP (K) FIHA revealed that the information was a hoax, false information. Although it listed some alumni of Faculty of Medicine; Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI); even a Cardiologist.
“If we look at social media, it is widely circulated that when a heart attack happens the patient must cough as hard as they can. If the heart stops suddenly, how can they cough, “said the lecturer at Faculty of Medicine UNAIR.
To UNAIR News team, Doctor Agus confirmed that if there is sudden cardiac arrest, the patient must immediately get basic life support or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). “If it turns out that there is a sudden cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation, then it must be immediately given an electric shock. If it happens outside the hospital, the first aid that can be given is to do CPR or basic life support, “he explained.
If signs of a heart attack appear, such as chest pain that does not go away with rest or medication, then it must be brought immediately to the ER so the type can be detected immediately. So if a heart attack happens, it can be anticipated immediately if there is a sudden cardiac arrest.
In essence, continued Doctor Agus, the patient must immediately get help quickly and precisely so that complications do not occur. “If the heart is not drained for five minutes, the risk is death. But what is also important to be saved is brain cells. Because he (brain cells, ed) only has the resistance to no oxygen for three minutes, “he said.
A heart attack is a condition in where there is a sudden blockage in coronary arteries. Coronary blood vessels are one of the vital blood vessel systems that feed the heart muscle. (*)
Author: Erika Eight Novanty
Editor: Feri Fenoria Rifa’i
