From Cayenne Pepper to coughing: Top Cardiologist debunks viral heart attack remedies (and suggests what to do instead)

When it comes to heart attacks, misinformation travels faster than facts, especially on social media. Most of us have come across the viral posts claiming that "coughing CPR" or swallowing cayenne pepper can stop a heart attack.

Fortunately for us, a renowned cardiologist, Dr. Jeremy London, is here to bust these myths. He claims that these "so-called" remedies do not work and may actually delay the critical medical help needed to save a life.

Truth about coughing CPR

One of the more enduring heart attack myths is that forceful coughing repeatedly during a heart attack can restimulate the heart or return it to a normal rhythm. Instagram videos and posts claim this "cough CPR" can keep someone conscious and their blood circulating until help arrives.This conception likely came from a real medical technique that doctors sometimes use in hospitals, but only under close monitoring and highly controlled conditions, says Dr. Jeremy.A patient in a hospital is sometimes told to cough by a team of doctors when irregular heartbeats occur because the act of coughing can temporarily alter heart rhythms, under controlled conditions, but these are special cases, not during a full-fledged heart attack, and certainly not in an unsupervised environment.

The main problem at the time of a heart attack is the sudden blockage of blood flow to a part of the heart muscle. It is because of this blockage that the muscle becomes starved of oxygen.Coughing at home cannot clear or bypass this blockage, nor can it restore blood flow to that area. Therefore, “cough CPR” at home is ineffective and dangerous insofar as it may delay calling emergency services, says Dr. Jeremy London.The only appropriate action if one is experiencing the classic symptoms of a heart attack, such as chest pressure, squeezing pain that radiates to the jaw or arm, nausea, or shortness of breath, is to seek immediate emergency medical care.

Every second counts because the longer the heart muscle remains deprived of oxygen, the greater and permanent the damage.

The Cayenne pepper and jalapeño myth

Another myth gaining traction online is the recommendation to take cayenne pepper or jalapeños during a heart attack for "stimulating circulation" or to "clear blockages." Other posts go so far as to suggest that adding cayenne to warm water or consuming spicy food directly can interrupt a heart attack once it has begun.There is no scientific basis to substantiate these claims, says Dr. Jeremy. Although cayenne pepper does contain capsaicin, an active compound known to stimulate the function and metabolism of the blood vessels, it does not dissolve clots or unblock arteries. It will not prevent injury to the heart muscle in an acute event. The physiological processes underlying a heart attack involve narrowed arteries and clot formation; this is something that spice or heat cannot reverse at the time.In fact, eating very spicy foods during distress worsens chest discomfort, causes gastrointestinal pain, or confuses the person, which mimics or masks a real cardiac symptom. Believing in cayenne or other so-called “natural cures” will lead to wasting precious time that could be utilized towards life-saving treatment.

What really works during a heart attack

If symptoms of a heart attack are suspected, the appropriate immediate response is straightforward: Call for emergency medical help without delay. While waiting for help:Chew and swallow an adult aspirin, unless allergic. Aspirin reduces platelet activity, thus helping to prevent further clotting and limiting the size of the heart attack.Keep still and calm; exertion increases the oxygen demand of the heart.If nitroglycerin is prescribed, then take it as prescribed by your physician.Loosen tight clothing and try to remain seated upright until help arrives.These simple, evidence-based steps can make a measurable difference in survival and recovery outcomes.

Why myth persist

Heart attacks are scary, and in states of panic, people seek simple, controllable actions.

Social media further magnifies comforting, yet wrong, ideas. Comforting but incorrect notions are often intertwined with partial medical truths and misleading claims, such as the belief that cayenne peppers stimulate circulation in emergency situations, simply because long-term diets containing cayenne peppers can do a dangerous misunderstandings.

CPR seems to make sense on paper, but it does essentially nothing but create delay without professional oversight.Medical expert, such as Dr.Jeremy London, advises viewers not to just go for any advice they seek online. Just because a remedy sounds natural or is widely circulated does not make it medically valid. The heart is highly sensitive to oxygen deprivation and requires a very precise and timely intervention.Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only