Do not follow first aid advice circulating on social media in the event of a heart attack, as much of it is incorrect and dangerous.

noli's read

This advice highlights a crucial reality: medical misinformation on digital platforms can delay or compromise vital care. Official recommendations, such as those from the Fédération Française de Cardiologie or the Red Cross, are based on resuscitation protocols validated by international scientific consensus (high-level evidence, such as meta-analyses and expert recommendations). Viral tips, such as coughing forcefully or drinking certain preparations, lack clinical evidence and can cause the loss of precious time, a determining factor for cardiac prognosis. It is therefore scientifically sound to prioritize established protocols (calling emergency services immediately) rather than unverified empirical remedies. The analysis shows that the risk here is not only ineffectiveness, but the diversion of the necessary rapid action. Caution regarding unsourced health advice is a standard public health recommendation.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.