Left arm pain — without chest pain — may be a dull ache or a shooting pain, and it may accompany other symptoms, such as headaches and muscle weakness. If the pain is severe or persistent, see a doctor. Seek emergency care if the pain results from trauma or if there are any symptoms of a stroke or heart attack.
Call for medical help right away or go to the emergency room if you have: Arm, shoulder or back pain that comes on suddenly, is severe, or occurs with pressure, fullness or squeezing in your chest.
Note the duration of pain
If the left arm pain lasts only for few seconds then it is unlikely that it is due to any heart ailment. If the pain persists for a long time (for days or even weeks), it is also unlikely that it has something to do with your heart.
Not all left arm pain, achiness or difficulty moving is a sign of a heart attack. Sometimes the cause is an injury, compressed nerves or other issues that don't involve your heart. Be mindful of the other symptoms, and if they last for more than a couple minutes, get emergency help.
“I understand that heart attacks have beginnings and on occasion, signs of an impending heart attack may include chest discomfort, shortness of breath, shoulder and/or arm pain and weakness. These may occur hours or weeks before the actual heart attack.
This varies from patient to patient. In some, the pain can be continuous while for others, it might start and stop again. These symptoms can last for a couple of minutes or several hours.
Signs of a heart attack include:
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. - Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. - Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. (If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.)
Pre-Heart Attack Symptoms – Female
Men may feel pain and numbness in the left arm or the side of the chest. In women, these symptoms may appear on the right side. Women may experience unexplained exhaustion, or feel drained, dizzy or nauseous. Women may feel upper back pain that travels up into their jaw.
Left arm Pain can develop for a variety of reasons, some more serious than others. And even though it's tempting to try at-home remedies to relieve the pain quickly, it's recommended to visit a dentist as soon as possible to make sure the source of the pain is not an inflammation or a disease.
Symptoms can be different for men and women
For men: Pain will spread to the left shoulder, down the left arm or up to the chin. For women: Pain can be much more subtle. It may travel to the left or right arm, up to the chin, shoulder blades and upper back — or to abdomen (as nausea and/or indigestion and anxiety).
Pain in the left arm that comes and goes is a possible sign of a heart attack. However, other conditions, such as an injury or a pinched nerve, can also cause this type of pain. If a person feels short of breath or has discomfort or pain in their chest or upper body, they should call 911 immediately.
It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
feel like a dull pain, ache, 'heavy' or 'tight' feeling in your chest. spread to your arms, neck, jaw or back. be triggered by physical exertion.
Left arm pain and numbness can be symptoms of many conditions, one of the most serious being heart attack. Other potential causes include an injury, a pinched nerve, peripheral neuropathy, or hemiplegic migraine. Treatment for arm pain and numbness depends on the cause.
A heart attack is a medical emergency in which the blood supply to the heart is suddenly blocked. Warning signs that occur a month beforehand could be chest discomfort, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or pain. Discomfort in other upper-body areas, such as one or both arms, the neck, the back, the jaw, or the stomach. Shortness of breath before or during the chest discomfort. Cold sweat.
You may not even know you've had a silent heart attack until weeks or months after it happens. It's best to know what's normal for your body and get help when something doesn't feel right. Knowing the subtle signs of a silent heart attack can help you identify one.
Many people expect a heart attack to come on suddenly. But research suggests that women experience symptoms for several weeks before a heart attack. A study published in 2003 of 515 women who had experienced a heart attack, reports 80 percent of women had at least 1 symptom at least 4 weeks before their heart attack.
A silent heart attack is a heart attack that has few, if any, symptoms or has symptoms not recognized as a heart attack. A silent heart attack might not cause chest pain or shortness of breath, which are typically associated with a heart attack.
Symptoms of a heart attack can include: chest pain – a feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across your chest. pain in other parts of the body – it can feel as if the pain is spreading from your chest to your arms (usually the left arm, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and tummy.
An electrocardiogram (EKG) is the most common initial test and may be given within minutes of your arrival at the hospital. An EKG will check whether you may be having a heart attack. Based on the results of the EKG, your doctor may then order more tests, ask you about your medical history, and do a physical exam.