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Posted By Merv Newman
I have just received the following advice and would welcome informed comments :
What to do if you are alone and start to have a heart attack (chest pains, left arm going funny)
Advice : alternate very deep breaths with very deep coughing.
Explanation : deep breaths oxygenate the blood, deep coughing compresses the heart.
Any comments ?
Merv
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Posted By Paul Cornet
Heart attack while alone; I would phone for a ambulance!!
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Posted By Tabs
I am not a doctor, but as a first aider we are taught to chew aspirin (absorbed quickest under the tongue), sit with back to wall and knees up.
Unsure about the coughing being effective. Deep breaths are painful but obviously better than panting.
By far the best advice is to dial 999 even if you can't talk, they can trace.
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Posted By steve e ashton Coughing heavily has been recommended but discounted as an urban myth - see http://urbanlegends.abou...m/library/blcpr.htmAlso, the British Resus council discounts it - see http://www.resus.org.uk/pages/coughCPR.htmI am a simple lapsed first aider and would not choose to try to mediate between the advocates of coughing or not but if I knew I was having a heart attack and had gone into fibrillation (and no, I know that this will never be possible for me to assess….) and IF I remained sufficiently compos mentis (through the pain reported by those who have suffered) to remember this little bit of ‘advice’…. Then I would VERY DEFINITELY try to cough – and keep coughing until assistance arrived or I got to hospital. Whether I would try to (continue to) drive could depend on a number of factors but I doubt I would be thinking rationally and objectively about the risks to other road users at that time. Drive whilst coughing - or die… For me it’s a no-brainer I’m afraid. Whether it would be effective or not I do not know – but if I accepted the BRC assessment, then there would be nothing I could do except wait to die (soon). I personally do not want to ‘go gently into the night’. I want to go kicking and screaming (or not at all…), hanging on by my fingernails if necessary…. If coughing is only ever proven to work in one instance of cardiac arrest – let it be me! Steve
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Posted By Tony Rodham
The “Gold Standard” treatment in immediate medical care can be remembered by the mnemonic
MONA:
Morphine
Oxygen (15 Litres a minute at 100%)
Nitrates (i.e. GTN spray)
Aspirin (One 300mg Tablet Chewed)
An ECG is required as clot busting drugs might be needed.
This might not be possible being alone so get HELP, rest in half sitting position & remain calm.
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Posted By Alan Nicholls
Tony that's all well and good if you just happen to be a PARAMEDIC and the kit is within reach.
I doubt that many heart attack victims would have the presence of mind to practice the procedure. My father only had 1 heart attack he just felt unwell, not aware of what was happening, collapsed and died.
You pays your money and takes your chance with this one.
Regards all Alan N
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Posted By Adam Worth Oh the honour of replying to a Merv post! :) I received an email titled FW: HEART ATTACK SLIDE SHOW - WORTH 45 SECONDS OF YOUR LIFE I was amazed at what I read - considering some of the advice dangerous. A few minutes search on Google and it was shown to be a hoax! http://www.hoax-slayer.c...urvive-heart-attack.html
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Posted By Merv Newman
Thanks fellas. Myth Busted.
Second question : what is the half-life of an aspirin ? (how often should I replace it ?)
Merv
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Posted By Tabs
Merv, the blister pack/bottle has a best before date on it.
If that is not present, replace said aspirin with a pack that has it.
I take 75mg every day under Doc's orders so I am familiar with them :-)
They normally have a couple of years from memory, but please check.
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Posted By Mitch
A regular glug of a full bodied red is supposed to help reduce the risk of heart problems so what are you worrying about?
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Posted By Tony Rodham
Merv
Were is this going?
The duration of action of a drug is known as its half life & has nothing to do with it's shelf life. Replace it if it has time expired. For the treatment of acute M.I you need to stock 300mg Tablets.
I hope this helps?
Regards
Tony
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Posted By Steve H
HAD AN HEART ATTACK MYSELF AND PHONED AN AMBULANCE NO OTHER OPTION IS AVAILABLE
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Posted By David F Spencer
What does your lone worker's risk assessment say?
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Posted By Tabs
I think Merv was joking Tony :-)
I just checked my latest and sure enough it is a little over two years in that particular pack.
There is lots of information out there about methods and dosage on the web.
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