Fact Check: Can chewing garlic, ginger, and turmeric cure heart attacks?

Can chewing garlic, ginger, and turmeric cure heart attacks?

Claim: An Instagram video claims that garlic, ginger, and turmeric can act as a first response to heart attacks. It further explains that chewing these will increase nitric oxide production and remove the blockage. The video, which is in Hindi, goes on to claim that if one is getting a heart attack, they should chew on it hard and the heart attack will be cured. The link to the video is here.

Fact Check:

The claim is FALSE.

What is heart attack? 

Heart attack , also known as Myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is significantly reduced or stopped. This condition can range from being "silent," without noticeable symptoms, to being a severe event that causes rapid health decline and potentially sudden death. The majority of heart attacks are caused by underlying coronary artery disease. When a coronary artery is blocked, the affected heart muscle is starved of oxygen. If this lack of oxygen persists, it can cause the heart muscle cells to die, leading to tissue necrosis. (1 )

Incidence of heart attack:

Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, killing 375,476 people in 2021. An estimated 17.9 million people died from CVDs in 2016, representing 31% of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 85% were due to heart attack and stroke. (3)

How to identify a heart attack?

Speaking to the Medical Dialogues team, Dr Manav Agarwal, Interventional Cardiologist at Sanjeevan Hospital, New Delhi, explained, “ It's crucial to quickly recognise the signs of a heart attack for prompt intervention. Key symptoms include persistent chest pain or discomfort, pain in other upper body areas such as arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach, shortness of breath, and other signs like cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness. Women might experience less typical symptoms such as unusual fatigue, nausea, and back or jaw pain. If these symptoms occur, one should rush to the hospital immediately to get an ECG done.”

Does chewing garlic, ginger, and turmeric cure heart attacks?

Some studies show that garlic, ginger, and turmeric have cardioprotective properties(4).

A study by Rahman et al. showed that garlic benefits cardiovascular disease prevention and management by influencing several key factors related to heart health. Its ability to inhibit platelet aggregation, enhance fibrinolysis, and modulate blood pressure and vascular tone contributes to its protective effects against the development of cardiovascular diseases. (5)

Another study reported that turmeric and its active ingredient, curcumin, offer significant cardiovascular benefits by maintaining normal cholesterol levels, preventing LDL cholesterol oxidation, and reducing atherosclerotic plaque formation. Additionally, turmeric inhibits platelet aggregation, enhances endothelial function, and suppresses inflammatory pathways in the vascular system. It also blocks the action of angiotensin II type 1 receptors, contributing to cardiovascular health. These effects help mitigate the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular disorders by improving overall blood vessel health and serum lipid profiles. (6)

Sharma et al. reported that ginger offers substantial protection from stroke and heart attack because it helps prevent blood clotting. Studies have shown that it deactivates the harmful activity of the so-called "bad eicosanoids" hormones responsible for blood clotting, vessel constriction, and inflammation. (7)

Despite these studies, there is no evidence or medical consensus that confirms that Chewing garlic, ginger, or turmeric can cure heart attacks.

Responding to the question, Dr Prem Agarwal, Cardiologist, MD and Founder of Sanjeevan Hospital, New Delhi, explained, “ I must emphasize that chewing garlic, ginger, and turmeric should not be considered a cure for heart attack. They are not effective or not at all appropriate for the acute management of a heart attack. Incorporating garlic, ginger, and turmeric into your diet can be part of a healthy lifestyle to maintain cardiovascular health. Still, they do not replace emergency medical treatments needed for a heart attack. Always seek medical help and rush to the hospital, as time is crucial during a heart attack .”

Medical Dialogues Final Take:

No, chewing garlic, ginger, and turmeric should not be considered a cure for heart attacks. Relying on these substances instead of seeking immediate medical treatment can be dangerous and potentially fatal. Timely medical intervention is critical for survival and minimizing heart damage during a heart attack. Hence, the claim is FALSE.

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537076/

2. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm.

3. https://www.who.int/india/health-topics/cardiovascular-diseases.

4. Khalid Rahman, Gordon M Lowe, Garlic and Cardiovascular Disease: A Critical Review12, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 136, Issue 3, 2006,

5. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/81170.

6. Sharma, Y. (2017). Ginger (Zingiber officinale)-An elixir of life: A review. The Pharma Innovation Journal, 6(10), 22-27.

7. https://www.academia.edu/35047907/Ginger_Zingiber_officinale_An_elixir_of_life_a_review