See your health care provider as soon as possible if you have: Arm, shoulder or back pain that occurs with any sort of activity and gets better with rest. This may be a symptom of heart disease or reduced blood flow to your heart muscle. A sudden injury to your arm, especially if you hear a snap or cracking sound.
If the pain comes on suddenly and is unusually severe, or is accompanied by pressure or squeezing in the chest, seek emergency treatment immediately.
If the pain doesn't get better within a day or two, schedule an appointment to see a doctor or go to the nearest urgent care.
The American Heart Association advise calling 911 if sudden left arm pain gets worse over a few minutes or occurs alongside any of the following symptoms: discomfort at the center of the chest that lasts longer than a few minutes or goes away and then returns.
Pain in the left arm without chest pain can result from various issues, including injuries and nerve damage. These issues may cause arm throbbing, swelling, or numbness alongside pain. Pinpointing the type of pain can help a doctor identify the cause. For example, it may be a dull ache or a sharper, stabbing pain.
Arm pain has also been reported as the cause of significant sleep disturbances even days before a heart attack. You might not even describe this symptom as “pain”. Instead, you may feel it as electrical, tingling, pins-and-needles, dull ache, weakness, heaviness, fullness, or a crushing feeling.
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).
Chest Pain, Pressure, Fullness, or Discomfort
You may also feel pressure, squeezing, or fullness. These symptoms usually start slowly, and they may go away and come back. This can be complicated because these symptoms may be related to something less serious, such as heartburn. You know your body best, though.
Heart attack signs and symptoms in men and women: Chest pain or discomfort; Shortness of breath; Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, arm, or shoulder; Feeling nauseous, light-headed, or unusually tired.
See your health care provider as soon as possible if you have: Arm, shoulder or back pain that occurs with any sort of activity and gets better with rest. This may be a symptom of heart disease or reduced blood flow to your heart muscle. A sudden injury to your arm, especially if you hear a snap or cracking sound.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), people with anxiety habitually experience chronic pain like muscle tension, body soreness, and headaches. For some, this pain can appear in the left arm.
Rotator cuff tendinitis and bursitis are two of the most common causes of arm pain. These conditions can be caused by overuse, repetitive motions, or direct trauma to the area. Exercises that stretch and strengthen the muscles and tendons around the shoulder and elbow can help to relieve pain from these conditions.
“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.
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.)
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but others start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Pay attention to your body and call 911 if you experience: Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes – or it may go away and then return.
“Just like the name implies, a silent heart attack is a heart attack that has either: no symptoms, minimal symptoms or. unrecognized symptoms,” says Deborah Ekery, M.D., a clinical cardiologist at Heart Hospital of Austin and with Austin Heart in Austin, TX.
However, heart attacks can also cause unusual levels of fatigue, sleep problems, and shortness of breath up to a month before in women. Treatment and recovery are possible, but only for those who recognize and act on these warning signs by immediately calling 911.
Some heart attacks strike suddenly, but symptoms could also occur hours, days or weeks in advance. It's important to know the symptoms, which can include: Symptoms for men may include: cold sweat, fatigue, light headedness or sudden dizziness.
Arm pain
You might not associate arm pain with your heart, but it can be a sign of a heart attack. Professor Newby says: “If your pain is going down the arm, especially the left arm, or into the neck that makes it more likely to be heart-related than indigestion.