A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked, often by a blood clot. Recognizing symptoms like pain in the left arm is important for prompt medical attention. Swift action can limit heart damage and improve outcomes.
Characteristics of Left Arm Pain
During a heart attack, left arm discomfort is common, though it can affect the right arm or both. It is often a dull ache, pressure, heaviness, or squeezing sensation, not a sharp, stabbing pain. Numbness may also be felt. The discomfort often originates in the chest or shoulder, spreading down the arm, sometimes to the hand or fingers. The pain may not be severe and can come and go, lasting more than a few minutes.
Other Heart Attack Symptoms
While arm pain is common, heart attacks present with various symptoms. Chest pain or discomfort is common, often described as pressure, fullness, or squeezing in the chest. This discomfort can persist for several minutes or may subside and then return.
Shortness of breath can occur with or without chest discomfort. Pain may also radiate to other upper body areas, including the jaw, neck, back, or stomach. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, or a cold sweat. Women, in particular, may experience less typical symptoms such as unusual fatigue, back pain, or indigestion.
Understanding Referred Pain
Pain from a heart attack felt in the left arm and other distant areas is known as “referred pain.” This occurs because nerve pathways from the heart and other body parts, like the arm, share connections within the spinal cord. When the heart is distressed, the brain can misinterpret the pain signals’ source. Sensory information from different body parts converges onto the same spinal cord neurons. This confuses the brain, causing it to perceive pain in a different location. For instance, nerves from the heart share origins along the spinal cord with nerves from the left arm, causing cardiac pain to be felt in the arm.
Immediate Steps and Emergency Care
If you suspect someone is having a heart attack, call emergency services immediately. It is not advisable to drive oneself to the hospital, as emergency medical services can begin treatment upon arrival and provide rapid transport. While waiting for help to arrive, encourage the person to sit down and remain calm to reduce strain on the heart.
If conscious, not allergic, and advised by emergency dispatch, they may chew an adult-size aspirin tablet (typically 300mg). Aspirin helps thin blood and improve heart blood flow. Time is a determining factor in treatment and recovery outcomes for a heart attack.