If you’re referring to the viral claim that there is a “10-second trick” that can save you from a heart attack at home, there is no proven maneuver that can stop a heart attack in 10 seconds.
If you think you are having a heart attack:
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Call your local emergency medical service immediately. Don’t drive yourself if emergency transport is available.
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Stop what you’re doing and sit or lie in a comfortable position.
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If you have been prescribed nitroglycerin for angina, take it exactly as instructed.
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Ask an emergency dispatcher or healthcare professional about aspirin. For some adults with suspected heart attack, chewing aspirin may be recommended, but it isn’t appropriate for everyone—for example, people with certain allergies or bleeding risks.
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If you become unconscious and aren’t breathing normally, someone nearby should begin CPR and use an AED if available.
Typical warning signs include pressure, squeezing, or pain in the chest, pain spreading to the arm, shoulder, back, neck, or jaw, shortness of breath, cold sweating, nausea, or unusual weakness. Women and older adults can sometimes have less typical symptoms.
Don’t wait for symptoms to pass. Every minute matters during a suspected heart attack.
