Can chewing ginger help in case of a sudden heart attack?

We had heard of Aspirin, but never about chewing ginger in case of a heart attack. This is why when we saw Ayurveda practitioner Guru Manish Ji suggesting that chewing a piece of adrak can help with a sudden heart attack, we immediately reached out to experts to verify the claim. “Ask the patient to chew vigorously on a piece of ginger. This is according to proven research texts,” he said on the RealHit podcast.

Let’s first understand what happens during a heart attack 

A serious heart attack is known as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and occurs when a major coronary artery is completely blocked. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), STEMI is the most acute manifestation of coronary artery disease and is associated with great morbidity and mortality. “Early diagnosis and immediate reperfusion are the most effective ways to limit myocardial ischemia and infarct size and thereby reduce the risk of post-STEMI complications and heart failure,” it reads.

What are the benefits of ginger?

According to another NCBI research, among natural entities, ginger is an extensively used and well-known functional food and condiment, possessing plentiful bioactivities, like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties in several disorders management.

Is ginger that effective? (Source: Pixabay)

Does the claim hold true?

A heart attack is a medical emergency and if it is not treated on time, it can even result in death. “There is no research-based evidence of the efficacy of chewing ginger in acute heart attack cases. However, there is evidence of using Aspirin before any medical help arrives. Taking Aspirin early or before hospitalisation may improve survival rates in cases of heart attacks,” said Dr Sudhir Kumar, consultant neurologist, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad.

Cardiologist Dr Subhendu Mohanty refuted the claim and told indianexpress.com, “No, please. There is no truth to this. The life-saving thing that you can do at home is to chew a 300mg tablet of Aspirin. That’s all. The rest of the treatment is in the hospital.

 

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According to Dr Kumar, another drug that can help is nitroglycerin (especially if it has been advised by a physician for a person prone to get heart attack). “Keep the person comfortable and maintain calm. If the affected person is not breathing and is unconscious, CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) should be promptly started. Efforts should be made to transfer the patient to the nearest hospital as early as possible, by calling an ambulance,” said Dr Kumar.

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