Heart Attack: Why does the left hand feel pain during a heart attack? Know the science behind this warning signal.

Left arm pain: We see in movies that people place their left hand on their chest during a heart attack, but do you know why this happens? Let us explain why.

Symptoms of a heart attack

Heart Blockage Symptoms: Whenever we think of heart problems, the first thing that comes to mind is chest pain. However, sometimes people experience pain or heaviness in their left arm, either alongside or before this. This pain can be mild, pressure-like, tingling, or numb. This symptom doesn't just appear; it's a vital signal from the body that something serious is happening. If you recognize it early, you could save your life. Let us explain.

Why does pain occur in the left hand?

When the heart muscle doesn't receive enough oxygen because of a blockage in the coronary arteries, the heart sends pain signals. The nerves from the heart and left arm travel through the same pathway to the brain. This causes the brain to lose track of the actual source of pain and mistake it for pain coming from the left arm. This is called referred pain. The nerves to the heart and left arm are primarily connected by spinal nerves called T1 to T4. When the heart is deprived of oxygen, the pain signal is transmitted through these nerves to the entire left side, especially the shoulder, arm, and jaw.

Why is pain felt more on the left side?

The heart is slightly tilted toward the left side of the body, so blockages or lack of oxygen to the heart muscle are felt more on that side. If the blockage occurs in the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) arteries, the pain is felt directly on the left side. Doctors also call these the window-maker arteries, because a complete blockage can be fatal.

When to understand that this pain is a sign of a heart attack?

Left arm pain isn't always a sign of a heart attack, but if it lasts for more than a few minutes, feels like pressure or burning, and doesn't go away even after resting, you need to be alert. If this pain is accompanied by chest heaviness, shortness of breath, jaw pain, nausea, or sweating, seek medical help immediately. About one in four people experience atypical symptoms during a heart attack. This means they don't experience chest pain, but pain in the left arm may be the only sign.