If you’re referring to the viral claim “If you have a heart attack at home, do this in 10 seconds and you can save your life,” be careful: there is no 10-second trick that reliably stops a heart attack. Viral advice such as repeatedly coughing, drinking water, or performing forceful breathing maneuvers is not a substitute for emergency treatment.
🚨 If you think you’re having a heart attack
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Call your local emergency medical service immediately. Don’t wait to see whether symptoms disappear.
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Stop what you’re doing and sit or lie somewhere safe. Avoid walking around or driving yourself to the hospital.
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Unlock your door if you’re alone so emergency responders can get in.
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Follow the emergency operator’s instructions.
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If you have been prescribed nitroglycerin for angina, take it exactly as previously instructed.
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Aspirin may be appropriate for some adults with suspected heart attack, but it isn’t suitable for everyone. Follow your emergency service’s advice, particularly if you have an aspirin allergy, active bleeding, or have been told not to take aspirin.
Know the warning signs
Heart attack symptoms can include pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the chest, discomfort spreading to the arm, back, neck, jaw, or stomach, shortness of breath, cold sweating, nausea, or lightheadedness.
Symptoms can be less typical in some people, including women and older adults, so don’t dismiss significant unexplained breathlessness, nausea, unusual fatigue, or upper-body discomfort.
If these symptoms are happening right now, don’t spend time trying the internet “10-second trick”—call emergency medical services now.
