Does A Numb Left Arm Mean A Heart Attack?
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Not only are heart attacks dangerous because they interrupt blood supply to the heart, but the misconceptions around them—especially symptoms—make them even more so. One of the most commonly perpetuated “symptoms” is the belief that pain in the left arm is a fair warning. This may be one of the most fatal Or Nots in the book. While this can be a common symptom of a heart attack for men, it is not always for women. In women, the pain is more likely to be felt in either arm.
The two sexes can have very different symptoms. Females are more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea and/or vomiting, back or jaw pain, or other subtle signs. Believe It or Not! in about 10% of women’s heart attacks, there is no form of chest pain at all.