Is Arm Pain a Heart Attack Symptom?

Arm pain can be caused due to several reasons like muscle strain, muscle pull, injury, etc. However, arm pain is also one of the symptoms of a heart attack. What is the nature of arm pain during a heart attack? Let us take a look at it in detail.

Heart Attack
A heart attack is a fatal condition, caused when oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart reduces or stops. Due to this, the heart does not function properly or sometimes stops functioning completely, which results in the person's death. A heart attack can occur due to several reasons like stress, excess amount of cholesterol in the body, obesity, etc. It is essential to identify the warning signs of a heart attack in order to get prompt treatment. So, is arm pain a heart attack symptom? Let us find out.

Arm Pain and Heart Attack
Chest pain, arm pain that travels to the shoulder and the back, etc. are the early signs of a heart attack. Chest pain is the most common and major symptom of heart attacks. In case of a heart attack, the pain originates in the chest and spreads to the arms, neck, and even to the back. It should be noted that usually left arm pain is associated with heart attacks. Why is it so? This is because arm pain during a heart attack originates from the left chest, then moves upwards to the shoulder and radiates down the bronchial artery in the left arm. Therefore, one experiences left arm pain during heart attack.

Left arm pain is the most common heart attack symptom in women; whereas, men usually experience chest pain. Some women may not experience chest pain at all, but will definitely experience arm and shoulder pain. As mentioned above, left arm pain is one of the underlying symptoms of heart attacks in both men and women. Now, if you wish to know how exactly does an arm pain in a heart attack feel like, then note that the type of pain differs from person to person. Therefore, it is better to consult the doctor if one experiences sudden left arm pain, even when other symptoms may or may not be seen. With the help of certain tests, the doctor can easily diagnose a heart problem. The most important thing to remember is that in most cases, a person can be treated effectively if the early warning symptoms of a heart attack are identified at an early stage.

On the other hand, you should also remember that although classical heart attack symptoms are arm pain and numbness, not all types of arm pain are related to heart attacks. Arm pain can be a side effect of certain prescriptions, or can even be caused due to above mentioned conditions. Sometimes, excess stress and panic attacks can also lead to arm pain. It is better to also note the other symptoms accompanied with arm pain, in order to get the underlying cause diagnosed and treated immediately.

As a concluding note, we can summarize the above in a single sentence, by saying that arm pain can be a symptom of a heart attack, and hence, it should note be ignored. It is better to get yourself checked by a specialist as early as possible. Take care!