A member asked:

Why do your arm start to hurt when you're about to have a heart attack?

8 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Creighton Wright answered

Specializes in surgery

Radiated pain: Most common is sub sternal crushing pain. But the nerves to the heart and pericardium send signals that the brain focuses on neck, or chest, or arms. Sometimes one comes before the other does as angina then full spectrum when muscle dies.

Answered 9/5/2013

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Sometimes: Only in some. The pericardium is innervated by c3, 4, 5(phrenic nerve). There may be some neuronal connections to the intercostobrachial nerves. As a result refered pains to the inner arm may occur in some people.

Answered 9/5/2013

5.2k views

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