Why does chest pain radiate to the left arm?
Chest pain that radiates to the left arm can be life-threatening and indicate a heart attack. Or it could be another issue that is less serious but still painful. Chest pain that radiates to the left arm can be heart related, nerve related or caused by something else.Heart RelatedA heart attack, angina, pericarditis (inflammation of heart’s protective sac) and other heart-related conditions can cause chest pain traveling to the left arm, according to the Mayo Clinic. The pain radiates to the left side because of confusion of the nervous system during a cardiac event. Also, the heart is located a bit left of the chest’s center.Pinched NerveA pinched nerve in the neck can cause a variety of symptoms, including chest pain, according to Nathan Wei, a rheumatologist and arthritis expert. If the compressed nerve is on the left side, pain will radiate down the left arm and into the hands and fingers.Muscoloskeletal IssuesThe Mayo Clinic states that a dislocated rib or tight shoulder muscles o
