“That evening, the arm pain came unexpectedly, radiating from my chest to my left inner arm, reaching my fingers. I felt a squeeze, like a band tightening, and my heart raced with worry”, Gabi recalls.

Consensus.app explains that arm pain is a well-recognized symptom of heart attack (myocardial infarction) and angina pectoris, often described as constricting, squeezing, or a feeling of tightness. It commonly starts in the chest and spreads to the left arm, but can affect both arms, the right arm, or even be isolated without chest pain, potentially leading to misdiagnosis. 

How do you know if arm pain is muscle or heart-related?

Health experts note that the pain associated with a heart attack is often described as constricting, squeezing, cramp-like, or a feeling of tightness. It commonly starts in the chest and radiates to the left arm, but can also affect both arms, the right arm, the jaw, neck, or back.”For me, it was a wake-up call to nurture my heart holistically,” Gabi adds. A study emphasizes that arm pain can be an early phenomenon of adaptation, or rather cardiac maladaptation in the context of incipient heart failure (HF),

Consensus.app equally highlights that some patients may only experience arm pain without chest discomfort, which can make diagnosis challenging.

Embracing Faith and Vigilance

For Gabi, monitoring his heart with regular check-ups and prayer brought relief. Health experts advise seeking help if pain comes with shortness of breath or dizziness. Gabi’s story teaches us vigilance. Psalm 147:3 assures us: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Take our free heart test at eyoleheartnurture.com to start yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why Do I Have a Lot of Pain in My Arm? Arm pain can signal a heart attack if constricting and radiating from the chest, per Consensus.app.
2. Does Arm Pain from a Heart Attack Come and Go? It may, but persistent or recurring pain warrants immediate attention, notes Consensus.app.
3. What Are the Early Warning Signs of a Heart Attack? Chest discomfort, arm pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue, as per Consensus.app.
4. How Do You Know If Arm Pain Is Muscle or Heart-Related? Heart-related pain is often squeezing and spreads; muscle pain is localized, per Consensus.app.
5. Which Arm Is the Stroke Arm? Typically the left, but it can be either; seek help if sudden, warns Consensus.app.
6. What Part of Your Shoulder Hurts with Heart Problems? Pain between the shoulder blades may indicate heart issues, per Consensus.app.
7. What Are the 5 Warning Signs of a Mini Stroke? Sudden weakness, confusion, trouble speaking, vision loss, and dizziness, notes Consensus.app.
8. What Is the FAST Test for Stroke? Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency, per Consensus.app.
9. What Happens 1 Month Before a Stroke? Subtle signs like headaches or fatigue may appear, warns Consensus.app.
10. What Strange Behavior Happens Before a Stroke? Confusion or sudden personality changes, per Consensus.app.