Arm Pain and Heart Attack Plus Angina Explained

Arm pain and heart attack are closely related. Arm pain related to heart attack is a result of Angina and is a symptom of the coronary heart disease. The angina is the discomfort or pain in the chest that happens when the heart muscles fail to get adequate blood supply. The pain manifests in the neck, shoulders, back, jaw and the arm.

Angina might feel like indigestion. However, arm pain may indicate the possibility of getting a heart attack hence it is necessary to deal with it at the earliest possible sign of trouble. This article vividly explains the relationship between the arm pain and heart attack and gives ten practical ways which, if followed, will help you overcome these conditions and live longer.

Arm Pain and Heart Attack Angina

First and foremost, it is essential to explain what arm pain caused by Angina means and why you should seek immediate medical attention after noticing the symptoms.

Angina is a medical terminology that is used to describe discomforts in the chest that occur as a result of the heart not receiving sufficient blood. The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart. The supplied blood contains nutrients and oxygen that are needed by the heart muscles to continue pumping. The heart will not be able to function effectively if the amount of blood is not enough.

When an individual experiences strong emotions and extreme temperatures, does physical exertion and eats to the limit that raises the heart’s demand, he or she will be able to feel pressure, fullness, temporary pain or pain in the middle part of the heart, shoulder, jaw, back and the upper arm.

After removing the stressor or sub-lingual nitroglycerine, you will begin to feel relief from this discomfort. The Angina cases are temporary and could last from some seconds to a few minutes. You will not feel it for hours or a day. You should not mistake the Angina episode with the heart attack. Nonetheless, if begin to experience Angina, it implies that you are at a greater risk of suffering a heart attack.

Arm Pain and Heart Attack Angina Explained

Whereas the Angina scenario has to do with temporary discomforts in the chest, a heart attack takes place when the supply of blood to the heart is cut off resulting to the death of the heart muscle part.

Angina is a symptom and a critical warning that the individual already requires to go for immediate medical attention so as to avert having the heart attack. If you continue ignoring the Angina episodes, it will raise the risk of getting an unusual heart rhythm or getting a heart attack. Any of these two cases can lead to sudden death.

When experiencing angina, time is very essential. The more you extend the time that your heart gets deprived of sufficient blood and oxygen, the higher probability of your heart muscle getting vulnerable to the abnormalities of heart rhythm or heart attack.

There are also situations in which the pain you experience from your chest and arm is not as a result of angina. It might be caused by acid reflux, upper respiratory infection, asthma or from sore muscles and ligaments within the heart. However, if case the chest and arm pain is severe or recurrent, let be checked immediately.

A heart attack is accompanied by common symptoms such as discomfort or pain in the chest, tightness, sweating, vomiting and nausea which come with intense pressure around the chest. The other symptoms include intense chest pain that spreads towards the left arm. Shortness of breath for a few minutes may also indicate an imminent problem. There could also be pain nearly everywhere above the waist then towards the jaw, neck and the shoulders.

Angina, Arm Pain and Heart Attack Treatment

If you encounter any of the mentioned symptoms, you should seek quick medical attention. Do not dismiss the discomfort off, assuming it to be heartburn.

Remember, even if you happen to think you are suffering from a heart attack, you should call an ambulance and put aspirin under your tongue, except if you are allergic.  Time is very critical here since each passing minute raises the possibility of having a heart damage that is permanent.

Nowadays, there is high likelihood that when you arrive at the emergency department, the health providers will offer intravenous clot-busting medication that will aid in restoring the blood flow to the heart.

Such medication has been proved to be very effective especially when administered within the shortest time possible, following the condition.

There are several risk factors that may cause you to develop arm pain and heart attack conditions. They include diabetes, smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol levels, lack of exercise, a family history of the heart disorders, obesity and a diet full of fat. There are ten steps you can follow in order to reduce the risk of experiencing arm pain and heart attack conditions.

• First, you need to quit smoking. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor that reduces the blood arteries hence elevating blood pressure.
• Second, eat healthy by avoiding excess salt, fatty foods and red meat. This is because each of these elements increases both the cholesterol and blood pressure in your arteries.
• Third, regulate the blood pressure. You should carefully and frequently monitor your blood pressure through the use of suitable medication.
• Fourth, conduct some physical exercise of about 30 minutes each day. Research has shown that frequent exercise for this period of time can have a very positive effect on your health.
• Fifth, prevent obesity by maintaining a body weight that suits both your bone structure and height.
• Sixth, you should choose to have a healthy lifestyle. For example, you may design an individual wellness program that comprises of several factors that interact together.
• Seventh, you should practice relaxation techniques to help you relieve stress. This can be in form of sleep, reading a nice book or listening to calm music. Such techniques will help to get rid of stress which can worsen the situation.
• Eighth, form a habit of performing frequent deep-breathing exercises. Research shows that humans use only approximately 20 to 25 percent of the lung capacity. Such exercise will ensure adequate supply of oxygen and blood to the heart hence keeping it healthy and strong.
• Ninth, you undergo periodic cardiac evaluations. These evaluations should be mandatory because heart attack is the leading killer for adults and in 50 percent of those deaths; sudden death is the initial symptom.
• Lastly, include anti-oxidant rich meals in your diet, studies indicate that ingesting those foods that are rich in antioxidants greatly improves one’s overall health.

Arm pain and heart attack are closely related. Heart attack has seen many lose their precious lives. However, this heart attack and the death it causes can easily be prevented through reducing your risks, as highlighted above. Strike a balance between leisure activities and work, leave the couch in your house for outdoors, play sports instead of watching television sports and you will increase your chances to lead a healthy, happy and long life.