Experts say that chewing an aspirin during a heart attack can increase the chance of survival. The major problem of a heart attack is the growth of blood clot within the coronary artery. As the blood clot grows, it blocks the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle, causing heart muscle cells to die. Aspirin helps by inhibiting the activity of the platelets, tiny blood cells that trigger the formation of blood clot.
Time is of the essence, every minute counts. You cannot waste time if you are at the first sign of a heart attack. The right action is to call for medical help as soon as possible or ask someone else to do that for you. But it is also recommended to chew an aspirin while waiting for the paramedics since they will need time to get to your place. By chewing an aspirin you can begin therapy immediately and minimize damage to your heart.
But why should you chew an aspirin instead of swallowing it whole? Speed is so important in a heart attack treatment. Research has shown that chewed aspirin works faster than swallowed aspirin. Chewed aspirin can get into your system more quickly. Chewing the aspirin for 30 seconds before swallowing it can reduce platelet activation by 50% in 5 minutes. While swallowing a whole aspirin (often with water as you normally would) takes 10 to 12 minutes to achieve the same effect.
For the best results, chew a single full-sized 325-mg tablet, but don’t use an enteric-coated tablet, which will act slowly even if chewed.
Heart attack is spontaneous, unpredictable and can happen away from home. If you have a heart disease it is better to prepare yourself to face the worst possibility. Maybe you need to provide an emergency aspirin dispenser that can be carried around at all times.
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