Is Left Arm Pain Suggestive Of A Heart Attack?

Posted on Fri, 26 Jun 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 26 Jun 2015 Answered on

Mon, 20 Jul 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : My left arm began aching three hours ago. Should,I be concerned about a heart attack or stroke.

Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Not suggestive / Yet get examined & investigated

Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic

There could be several causes – arm / neck / heart etc..
Arm pain may be referred pain – from elsewhere, including the heart / there need not be chest pain!
Your symptoms do not suggest Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).
However, it is better to have it investigated
Go to the ER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE... EKG and enzymes will exclude the possibility in a few minutes
Better be assured than be guessing… You need examination and investigation
Better be safe than sorry - treated if a problem is found / Happy, if it turns out otherwise
Any pain at this age should be investigated as HEART PAIN – UNLESS PROVED OTHERWISE –
In suspected heart attack, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE – if detected early, an attack may even be aborted / the amount of damage and complications can be reduced remarkably. The most important time is the first few hours.

Good luck
God bless you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj