Health Alert! Surviving A Heart Attack If You Are Alone

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States, including African Americans, Hispanics and Whites. In the Philippines, according to Department of Health (DOH) the rate of death due to heart diseases from 2004 to 2008 was 94.5%, and in 2009 alone, the rate of death due to heart diseases was 109.4%. Therefore, there is a significant increase in number of Filipinos that have died due to heart attack recently compared to the previous years.

Knowing the symptoms of heart attack is important. Early treatment can lessen the damage done to the heart and even save your life.

So here are 6 tips from the University of Pittsburg Medical Center for you to survive a heart attack alone.

1. Call for an emergency, or immediately go to nearest hospital. Quickly request for an ambulance and safest transportation to the hospital.

2. Take a deep breath. Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating.

3. Cough constantly and strongly. Stimulate electrical activity in the heart and keep it beating.

4. Relax your body as much as possible. The more body activity, the faster the heart attack will progress.

5. Cool your body temperature. Try to put cool cloth in your armpits and wrist to speed up the process.

While these tips will not guarantee survival from a heart attack however it will help buy some time to go to the hospital. It may save your life.