Why does a person's left arm hurt during a heart attack?

Men having a heart attack often feel pain in the left arm. In women, the pain is more likely to be felt in either arm. The pain might also come and go. In a previous post called “How Does It Really Feel to Have a Heart Attack? read more

Although the left arm is a common site of radiating pain - pain which is experienced as radiating from the original source (differing from referred pain - a pain which is felt in a distant site from the original source), the pain of a heart attack (myocardial infarction) can also be felt in other areas of the body. read more

In other people, the referred pain from a heart attack could extend above the waist, or be just as little as extra fatigability or even intense jaw pain. Some people may not have this referred pain sign of left arm pain. Symptoms and severity of chest pain vary from one person to another. read more

Heart attack is not the only reason for pain in the upper left arm. This pain can result from any number of conditions, including tendinitis, osteoarthritis, injury to the joint, fibromyalgia, bursitis, fractured bone, or stress to the shoulder or arm muscle stemming from overuse or lengthy confinement in an awkward position. read more

Left arm pain is considered a sign that a person is experiencing a heart attack and should go immediately to an emergency institution to have prompt and appropriate care needed. The signs and symptoms of a heart attack are very important to assess a myocardial infarction. read more