In my decades as a paramedic and first aid trainer, I have seen the lengths people will go to when trying to save a loved one. The instinct to do something is powerful and admirable. However, in Vietnam and many other cultures, I often see well-meaning bystanders relying on folklore or “traditional” home remedies to treat a heart attack.
One persistent and dangerous myth is the use of lemon—either squeezing the juice into the victim’s mouth or forcing them to bite on a slice to “wake them up” or “clear the blockage.” First aid expert Tony Coffey shares.
As a first aid expert, I have to say:
“This action is extremely dangerous, useless, and delays the precious ‘golden time’ needed to save the victim’s life.”
Why is lemon an ‘enemy’ during a heart attack?
When a person is suffering a heart attack (myocardial infarction), their body is in crisis. They may feel nauseous, lightheaded, or be on the verge of losing consciousness. . The first priority in any emergency is airway management. We need a clear path for oxygen to get to the lungs.
Placing a slice of lemon, or any food or liquid, into the mouth of someone who is distressed, gasping for air, or drifting in and out of consciousness creates an immediate choking hazard.
Airway Obstruction:
If the victim loses consciousness, their muscles relax, and that lemon slice can slide back and block the windpipe (trachea). Now, instead of just a heart issue, you have a hypoxic victim who cannot breathe.
Aspiration:
Squeezing acidic juice into the mouth of someone who is gasping or vomiting can cause them to inhale the fluid into their lungs. This can lead to aspiration pneumonia or severe irritation of the airway, complicating their recovery greatly.
Fundamental medical principle:
A heart attack is caused by a blockage in the blood supply to the heart muscle. Lemon juice in the stomach or mouth does nothing to clear a blocked artery.
It’s Not Always Like the Movies
Another reason people turn to home remedies is that they don’t realize a heart attack is happening. We are conditioned by movies to look for the “Hollywood Heart Attack”—a man clutching his chest in agony and collapsing.
In reality, symptoms can be subtle, and chest pain is not always present.
Signs and symptoms to look for include:
- Discomfort, not just pain: It may feel like pressure, squeezing, or fullness in the center of the chest, or even a persistent feeling of indigestion.
- Radiating pain: Discomfort spreading to the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
- Physical distress: Shortness of breath, breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or vomiting .
Unlike common angina (which usually subsides with rest) , the symptoms of a myocardial infarction will persist and worsen. Waiting to see if folk remedies work is simply wasting your loved one’s vital chance of survival.
Forget the lemon, this is the standard first aid procedure.
If you suspect a heart attack, forget the lemon, the ginger, and the needles. Do the following immediately:
- Call for Help: Dial 115 (or your local emergency number) immediately. Every minute without professional care reduces the chance of survival. .
- Rest: Help the person sit down in a comfortable position. Physical exertion strains the heart further.
- Calm: Reassure them. Anxiety increases heart rate and oxygen demand.
- Medication (If safe): If the person is not allergic, you may administer 300mg of Aspirin (chewed and swallowed) to help prevent more blood clots forming.
- Prepare for CPR: If they become unconscious and stop breathing normally or only make gasping attempts to breathe, you must be ready to start CPR immediately.
Your goal as a first aider is not to cure the heart attack—that is what doctors in the hospital will do. Your job is to try to prevent the condition from becoming worse, keep them safe, keep their airway clear, and get professional help on the way. Don’t waste time with lemons. Time is muscle.
Author: Paramedic Tony Coffey – Emergency Expert & Co-Founder of Survival Skills Vietnam (SSVN)
>> To equip yourself with proper first aid skills, including CPR techniques and how to use an AED defibrillator, you can refer to SSVN’s courses [Here].
