Opposition to "How to Survive a Heart Attack"

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#CCFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="039506e1egerbq.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#339900" FACE="Arial" ><B>Post-Polio Syndrome Information and More</B></FONT><B> </B><B> </B><B> </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>| </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#990000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index_page.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Index"><U><B>Index</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#339900" TEXT="#080000"> <div>      <IMG SRC="1e6a0a00.gif" border=0 width="160" height="160" ALT="Smily sad" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#99CC00" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Opposition to "How to Survive a Heart Attack"</div> <bR> <div> This article has been denounced by the American Red Cross, The American Heart Association and the Mended Hearts Organization. It is a cruel hoax and potentially lethal. This misconception was based on a study done in 1976 by Dr. CM Criley where some patients in a hospital setting helped to control their own heart arrhythmia while a doctor was present. The arrhythmias were not immediately lethal. If the patients had had a heart attack, the doctor was present to administer CPR. </div> <div> Several years ago a local chapter of the Mended Hearts printed an article similar to this in their newsletter. That unfortunate article was immediately retracted by the chapter and the National Mended Hearts organization, however the damage was already done. Beginning in 1999, variants of this hoax have been floating around the Internet. It "sounds" reasonable. People like being helpful, so it has taken on a life of its own.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> In the event of a heart attack, the patient passes out long before he would have an opportunity to begin "Cough CPR". The best thing a person could do if alone and begins to have symptoms of an imminent heart attack, is to immediately find a phone, dial 911 and take an aspirin. </div> <bR> <div> I assure you, this is a dangerous hoax. I am a long time American Red Cross CPR instructor, a heart attack victim, a Mended Hearts visitor and a heart transplant recipient. I guarantee you that you have been misled. This procedure will help no one and simply muddies the water. Please call me if you have any further questions. My home number is 510-337-1567. Perhaps you can print some information concerning this hoax on your website.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Russ Witte<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Additional sources:<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.rlc.cc.il.us/Online_Access/AHATC/cough-cpr.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.rlc.cc.il.us/Online_Access/AH"><U>http://www.rlc.cc.il.us/Online_Access/AHATC/cough-cpr.htm</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> "The American Heart Association does not recommend the use of "cough-CPR." This procedure is being erroneously advocated on the Internet and through e-mail as a possible treatment for those who suffer a heart attack and cardiac arrest while alone.</div> <bR> <div> The coughing technique described as "cough CPR" has been used in hospitals by physicians to treat sudden irregular heartbeats in monitored patients during cardiac catheterization procedures. In this scenario, a responsive patient who develops a sudden irregular heartbeat could possibly maintain blood flow to the brain and remain conscious <I>for a few seconds </I>if they cough vigorously and forcefully while being directed by a physician.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is severely reduced or stopped due to a blockage in one of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. During a heart attack, many people remain conscious, so the most important action is for a victim or a bystander to call 911 immediately to access emergency medical services."<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.snopes2.com/toxins/coughcpr.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.snopes2.com/toxins/coughcpr.h"><U>http://www.snopes2.com/toxins/coughcpr.htm</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Dr. Richard O. Cummins, Seattle's director of emergency cardiac care, explains that cough CPR raises the pressure in the chest just enough to maintain some circulation of oxygen-containing blood and help enough get to the brain to maintain consciousness for a prolonged period. But cough CPR should be used only by a person about to lose consciousness, an indication of cardiac arrest, he cautions. <B>It can be dangerous for someone having a heart attack that does not result in cardiac arrest.</B> Such a person should call for help and then sit quietly until help arrives, he says. </div> <div> In other words, the procedure might be the right thing to attempt or it might be the very thing that would kill the afflicted depending on which sort of cardiac crisis is being experienced. Without a doctor there to judge the situation and, if cough CPR is indicated, to supervise the rhythmic coughing, the procedure is just far too risky for a layman to attempt. </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.viahealth.org/rgh/heartattack.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.viahealth.org/rgh/heartattack"><U>http://www.viahealth.org/rgh/heartattack.htm</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blcpr.htm?once=true& " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl"><U>http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blcpr.htm?once=true</U></A><A HREF="http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blcpr.htm?once=true& " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl"><U>&</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blcpr.htm?once=true& " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl"><U> </U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBInconsequential.shtml#heart" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBInconseque"><U>http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBInconsequential.shtml#heart</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index_page.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Index"><U><B>Return to Index</B></U></A><B>                   </B><A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Surviving a Heart Attack Alone"><U><B>Return to "How to Survive a Heart Attack Alone" page</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>