That viral “10-second heart-attack trick” is misleading. There is no maneuver, drink, breathing technique, or coughing method that can reliably stop a heart attack in 10 seconds.
🚨 What to do instead
If you think you or someone else is having a heart attack:
- Call your local emergency medical service immediately. Don’t wait to see whether symptoms improve.
- Stop what you’re doing and sit or lie in a comfortable position.
- Don’t drive yourself to the hospital. Emergency medical personnel can begin care on the way.
- If you have prescribed nitroglycerin, take it exactly as previously instructed.
- Ask emergency medical personnel about aspirin if appropriate. Aspirin isn’t safe for everyone, particularly people with certain allergies or bleeding problems.
- If the person becomes unresponsive and isn’t breathing normally, someone should begin CPR and use an AED if one is available.
Symptoms can be subtle
Possible heart-attack symptoms include pressure or pain in the chest, pain spreading to an arm, jaw, back or shoulder, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, unusual weakness, or dizziness. Women, older adults, and people with diabetes can sometimes have less typical symptoms.
Don’t try “cough CPR.” Repeated forceful coughing is not a proven treatment for a heart attack and can delay proper emergency care.
If these symptoms are happening right now, call emergency services rather than trying a social-media remedy.
