"Oct. 31, 2003 VIENNA - Coughing vigorously until an ambulance arrives could
save the lives of people having a type of heart attack brought on by rapid and
erratic heart beat, a doctor said Tuesday. Dr. Tadeusz Petelenz, a researcher
in Poland, said the technique, called Cough CPR, forces blood to the brain
while the heart is starting to fail and keeps patients conscious long enough to
call for help. It may also rectify their heart rhythm, he told a meeting of the
European Society of Cardiology. He recommended Cough CPR be taught to
the public, but other experts said while the concept is provocative, it needs
more study.
(...)
Bossaert, a professor at the University Hospital in Antwerp, Belgium, said
coughing probably would not be harmful, but it is far too early to recommend
people try it at home. [Yeah you need to die, that's less risky] The symptoms
preceding an attack can be hard for people to recognize in the 30 seconds
before they lose consciousness, he said.
http://msnbc.com/news/960439.asp