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Self-CPR
A form of "self-CPR" termed "Cough CPR" may help a person maintain blood flow to
the brain during a heart attack while waiting for medical help to arrive and has
been used in a hospital emergency room in cases where "standard CPR" was
contraindicated.
"Cough CPR" was the subject of a hoax chain e-mail entitled "How to Survive a
Heart Attack When Alone" which wrongly cited "ViaHealth Rochester General
Hospital" as the source of the technique. Rochester General Hospital has denied
any connection with the technique.
Rapid coughing has been used in hospitals for brief periods of cardiac
arrhythmia on monitored patients. One researcher has recommended that it be
taught broadly to the public.
However, “cough CPR” cannot be used outside the hospital because the first
symptom of cardiac arrest is unconsciousness in which case coughing is
impossible. Further, the vast majority of people suffering chest pain from a
heart attack will not be in cardiac arrest and CPR is not needed. In these cases
attempting “cough CPR” will increase the workload on the heart and may be
harmful. When coughing is used on trained and monitored patients in hospitals,
it has only been shown to be effective for 90 seconds.
The American Heart Association (AHA) and other resuscitation bodies , do not
endorse "Cough CPR", which it terms a misnomer as it is not a form of
resuscitation. The AHA does recognize a limited legitimate use of the coughing
technique:
"This coughing technique to maintain blood flow during brief arrhythmias has
been useful in the hospital, particularly during cardiac catheterization. In
such cases the patients ECG is monitored continuously, and a physician is
present."
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