

When chest and arm pain are joined by other symptoms, it could further suggest a heart attack or indicate that other possible conditions may be present. If you experience heartburn often, you may have a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Ĭhest and arm pain alongside other symptoms It’s a condition in which stomach acid moves up into the esophagus, where it can cause a painful, burning sensation. Acid refluxĪ big dinner, spicy food, or alcohol can trigger a feeling of chest irritation known as heartburn, a common symptom of acid reflux. There are two types of angina: stable angina, which is predictable, usually emerges after physical exertion, and typically resolves with rest, and unstable angina, which can come on at any time in an unpredictable fashion.Įither type of angina is a risk factor for a heart attack. It’s not always a medical emergency, but it does need to be evaluated, and treatment should be supervised by a doctor. It’s caused by a reduction, but not a halt, in arterial blood flow to the heart muscle. Though it’s sometimes mistaken for a heart attack, angina is a condition marked by intense chest pain that can often radiate out to the neck, back, and arms. This is called pericarditis, and it’s often a temporary condition, though it can reoccur. It can become inflamed due to an infection or other cause. Surrounding the heart is a thin sac called the pericardium. In some cases, it can heal on its own, but these symptoms should always be evaluated by a doctor. A wound or infection can trigger inflammation. When the myocardium, the layer of heart muscle that helps the heart contract and relax, becomes inflamed, the result is a potentially serious condition known as myocarditis.


It’s often used interchangeably with CAD, but it can refer to other cardiac disorders, such as heart valve disease and heart failure (when the heart’s pumping becomes dysfunctional and can’t provide adequate blood flow throughout the body). Heart disease is a catchall term for any problem related to the heart.

The following is a list of common causes of simultaneous chest and arm pain and what it means if they affect you. Simultaneous chest and arm pain related to heart trouble can occur because pain signals that originate in the chest can radiate out to one or both shoulders and arms, as well as the back, neck, and jaw.īut sometimes concurrent chest and arm pain is due to a sports injury, a psychological disorder, or other noncardiac cause.
