Claim stating tapping elbows can prevent heart blockage lacks scientific evidence

What's the claim?

A nearly one-minute-long video claims that heart blockage and heart attacks can be prevented by clapping your hands, elbows, and armpits nine times in a row. The anchor suggests repeating this exercise twice daily and claims it will help clear heart blockage within seven days. 

Screenshot of the video. (Source: WhatsApp)

Several similar body tapping and clapping exercises have been suggested to prevent heart blockage and shared online over the years. Archived versions can be seen here and here. 

Body tapping is traditionally used in the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture. It is believed to have improved blood circulation, but there is no scientific evidence to support these claims.

 What did we find? 

According to Johns Hopkins, “Heart block occurs when the electrical signals from the top chambers of your heart don't conduct properly to the bottom chambers of your heart.” In simple words, it occurs when the heart beats slowly or with an abnormal rhythm.

A heart attack, on the other hand, occurs when one of the heart's coronary arteries is blocked or has an extremely slow flow of blood. Most heart attacks result from atherosclerosis i.e. hardening of the arteries due to plaque build up in the inner lining of an artery. The risk factors for the thickening of the artery lining can include diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, a family history of coronary artery disease, and age. Some people are born with a condition called congenital heart block.

Dr Varun Bansal, a cardiothoracic heart surgeon at Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, said that the way to prevent heart problems is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, do preventive check-ups, and exercise regularly. He added that timely diagnosis can help treat heart conditions.

Commenting on the video, he said, “There is no scientific evidence to back this preventive technique.” The British Heart Foundation, a research charity based in the United Kingdom, also highlights that “leading a healthy lifestyle and managing your risk factors is vital to slow the disease’s progression.”

“Almost everyone who has had a heart attack or has been diagnosed with angina will be prescribed medication to help protect their heart,” said the British Heart Foundation. 

 What about the video? 

We conducted a reverse image search on the video and found that the person in the video is one ‘Suman Chauhan’. She describes herself as a “certified dietician, fitness trainer, and a yoga expert.”  This video was posted on her Instagram (archived here) account on January 9, 2023. 

On scouring through her profile, we found several such videos. We have reached out to her and the story will be updated if and when we receive a response. 

The verdict

There is no scientific evidence that clapping hands, and tapping elbows and armpits can prevent heart blockage or heart attacks. Multiple reasons could cause heart blockage and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important to ensure good heart health.