“I Saw It on WhatsApp, So It Must Be True.”
We have all received those forwarded messages in the family group chat. “If you are alone and having a heart attack, cough violently to survive!” “Prick the fingers with a needle to stop a stroke!”
In a medical emergency, misinformation is just as dangerous as the disease itself. Believing these myths doesn’t just waste time; it can cost a life.
At ahablslahore.online, we teach evidence-based medicine, not folklore. Here are the 4 biggest myths we hear in Lahore—and the truth behind them.
Myth #1: “Cough CPR” Will Save You
The Myth: If you feel a heart attack coming on, cough repeatedly to keep the blood flowing. The Truth: This is a viral hoax that has been circulating since the early days of the internet. “Cough CPR” is a real thing, but it is only used in a catheterization lab (Cath Lab) under the strict supervision of a cardiologist during a specific type of arrhythmia. If you are having a heart attack at home, coughing won’t help. It might actually exhaust you faster. What to Do Instead: Chew an aspirin (300mg) and get to a hospital (like PIC or Doctors Hospital) immediately.
Myth #2: CPR Restarts the Heart
The Myth: You do compressions, and suddenly the patient wakes up and gasps, just like in the movies. The Truth: CPR does not restart a stopped heart. The purpose of CPR is to act as a manual pump. You are manually pushing blood to the brain to keep the brain cells alive until a defibrillator (AED) arrives. The Reality: The shock (defibrillation) restarts the heart. CPR just buys you time to get the shocker. This is why learning to use an AED is just as important as learning compressions.
Myth #3: Mouth-to-Mouth is Mandatory
The Myth: “I can’t do CPR because I don’t want to put my mouth on a stranger’s mouth.” The Truth: Good news! You don’t have to. For the general public, the American Heart Association now recommends “Hands-Only CPR.” If you witness a teen or adult collapse, just push hard and fast in the center of the chest. You don’t need to give breaths unless you are a trained healthcare provider or it is a drowning/choking victim. Don’t let the “ick factor” stop you from helping.
Myth #4: You Might Hurt the Patient
The Myth: “I’m afraid I’ll break their ribs.” The Truth: You probably will break a rib. And that is okay. A broken rib can heal. Death cannot be fixed. Effective CPR requires pushing the chest down 2 to 2.4 inches. That takes a lot of force. If you feel a crack, don’t stop. It means you are pushing hard enough to actually circulate blood.
Conclusion: Learn the Facts, Save a Life
Medicine isn’t about magic tricks or WhatsApp forwards. It is about science.
Don’t rely on rumors when an emergency strikes. Join us for a certified Basic Life Support (BLS) course where we separate fact from fiction.
Be the person who knows what to actually do.
