GREENVILLE -- An e-mail has been making the rounds since 1999. It claims that if you're alone and experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack, there is a simple form of CPR you can do on yourself.

In a word, you're encouraged to cough!

The e-mail says to "cough repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough. Do this until help arrives or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again."

But WYFF News 4's Carol Goldsmith found there's a problem.

Cardiologist Dev Vaz of Greenville says this cough CPR does not work.

In addition, the urban legend site Snopes.com points out that coughing could delay you from seeking real medical help and could therefore turn out to be deadly!

But how would someone come up with the cough CPR idea?

Dr. Vaz says there is one instance when coughing might work. It's for a benign arrhythmia in children and the coughing must be done under a doctor's care.

"It does not work in most arrhythmias," he says, "and even in that benign arrhythmia it only works 20 to 30 percent of the time."

Dr. Vaz advises emergency help right away for any symptoms of heart attack. Call 911 or flag down a passerby.

If you have aspirin with you, take it, but don't waste time searching your purse or the medicine chest for it in lieu of calling 911.

"And above all," says Dr. Vaz, "don’t waste time coughing!"