A video shared thousands of times in India claims that the ultimate cure for a heart attack is the consumption of chillies. This is misleading; doctors say that this has not been proven and is not a cure for heart attack.

Cardiovascular diseases and heart attacks are very common in India and are one of the leading causes of death for many. There are a number of reasons for this like an unhealthy lifestyle, high-stress levels, heavy smoking, and other underlying diseases among others. And as common as these diseases are, the cures and remedies circulating regarding this are as abundant.

A YouTube video from the channel Swadeshi Chikitsa Nirmal claims to have found the easiest and ultimate cure for heart attack. The video titled “Heart Attack Medicine Red chilli || Red hot chili peppers || Biswaroop Roy Choudhury on heart attack” has received thousands of views, in which the person named Biswaroop Roy Choudhury says that it is medically proven that red chillies can prevent heart attacks.

In this 2:35 minute-long video, he states that even the medicines that are given to prevent a heart attack are not safe. So it is better that in an emergency, a person should take a red hot chilli pepper and the active ingredient “capsaicin” (an active component of chili peppers) increases the blood circulation thus increasing the oxygen flow and prevents blood clotting in the body. These three main functions of chilli make it an effective remedy in emergency situations.

He claims that by doing this it takes just 60 seconds to relieve symptoms of heart attack and there are no side effects to this. However, it is not scientifically proven. If followed in bling belief, it can cause more harm than benefit.

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Dr. Shafi Kuchay, Senior Consultant- Endocrinology & Diabetes at the Medanta hospital said, “even if red chillies have a preventive role in lowering risk, it is not a cure for a heart attack”. He explained that there are few studies conducted in countries like Italy, America, and China which showed a lower percent risk of deaths due to heart attack in those who consumed red chillies.

“But these are observational studies which cannot prove that eating chili pepper caused the protection, it can only show an association”. The causation link (that eating chili peppers caused a reduction in a heart attack or stroke) can only be verified by a randomized controlled study, and there is none so far.

He further explained the role of the ingredient capsaicin,” chilli pepper contains a group of substances collectively called capsaicinoids, capsaicin being the most important member. There is some evidence that these cardiovascular benefits of chili pepper are mediated through Capsaicin”. “However, the basic mechanism of how chili pepper intake provides protection is not known” he added.

If an individual gets a heart attack or stroke, giving him chili pepper is wrong and should not be done. The best strategy is to go to an emergency room as soon as possible.