If you’re not currently aware, arm pain can be a precursor to heart disease, or a symptom of a heart attack. What usually confuses many people, though, is which specific arm the pain typically develops in when an individual suffers a heart attack, or encounters warning signs of one. It is often believed that pain in the left arm is the indicator, however it is possible for pain to occur in either one of the arms prior to or during a heart attack. With that said, heart attacks do not always occur simultaneously with arm pain; one may suffer from arm pain for completely other reasons. Furthermore, an individual can suffer a heart attack even without feeling any arm pain.
What to look out for
It would be prudent for an individual to be cognizant of any sudden arm pain, as arm pain and heart attacks do have some correlation. This is especially true if the arm pain occurs without the individual suffering any kind of physical injury; that would mean the pain is being caused by something within the body, and it may be a serious condition. Understand that arm pain can occur in either arm. Sometimes, arm pain is accompanied with additional symptoms, such as pain in the back or the center of the chest. It is possible that the arm pain that occurs prior to a heart attack can come and go, or it can last for a significant amount of time; either way, be wary of any sudden pain in the arm.
Not so obvious cases
There are cases where the connection between heart attacks and arm pain are not so obvious nor immediate. Arm pain may be a symptom of a heart disease that could one day result in a heart attack; it may not necessarily be related to any medical emergencies in the present time. With that said, keep in mind that heart disease can still appear without any obvious symptoms. In cases where symptoms are prevalent, effects like dizziness, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations may occur in addition to arm pain. Furthermore, an individual might also suffer from fatigue or nausea due to the heart disease.
Men vs. Women
More often than not, symptoms of heart attack in women are vastly different from symptoms affecting men. For instance, a woman may experience loss of appetite, heartburn, coughing, and fatigue as symptoms of heart attack, in addition to arm pain. Discomfort in the neck or back, vomiting and nausea, and changes in the rhythm of the heart tend to appear more in women than in men.
Seeing a Doctor
Despite the possibility of arm pain appearing as a result of other reasons not related to heart attacks, it would still be prudent for an individual to visit their doctor as soon as possible just to be on the safe side. This precaution is recommended because arm pain and heart attacks tend to go hand-in-hand with one another. Should an individual experience additional symptoms along with arm pain, then a trip to the emergency room is needed immediately.
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