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What Causes Severe Dizziness And Pain In The Left Arm?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that our brain can mimic similar symtoms.
Dizziness and arm pain are not typical of cardiac disease, especially when they are not associated to chest pain during exertion.
Based on your age, it is less probable that your symptoms are related to any cardiac disorders.
Have you performed any cardiac tests? If all your cardiac tests (resting ECG and cardiac ultrasound)have resulted normal, there is nothing to worry about.
You should know that different parts or our brain are responsible for different functions including our limbs (motion and feeling) and our body balance.
So, in susceptible persons, when there is a certain dysfunction (in molecular level) which involves certain substances of our brain called neurotransmitters (serotonin, adrenaline, noradrenaline, acetilcholine, etc.) similar symptoms like yours can occur.
It can be called anxiety (in everyday life), but it fact it is just a functional dysfunction of our brain.
There are several drugs which can help stabilize this dysfunction. They are called antidepressants, as their main action is to treat depression. But in fact their mechanism of action is stabilizing the neurotransmitters in the brain, achieving the desired balance, in order to have a normal function of the brain.
So, just relax and do not worry about it.
I recommend consulting with a specialist of this field (psychiatrist) in order to focus on your anxiety and try to manage it.
I would be happy to review your cardiac performed tests for another second professional opinion, as I am a professional cardiologist.
Another test to try is taking Xanax (or alprazolam) 0.25-0.5mg. If your symptoms are relieved by this drug, this means that it is just anxiety (or a functional dysfunction of your brain as you are a sensible person).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
I am at your disposal for any other questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that our brain can mimic similar symtoms.
Dizziness and arm pain are not typical of cardiac disease, especially when they are not associated to chest pain during exertion.
Based on your age, it is less probable that your symptoms are related to any cardiac disorders.
Have you performed any cardiac tests? If all your cardiac tests (resting ECG and cardiac ultrasound)have resulted normal, there is nothing to worry about.
You should know that different parts or our brain are responsible for different functions including our limbs (motion and feeling) and our body balance.
So, in susceptible persons, when there is a certain dysfunction (in molecular level) which involves certain substances of our brain called neurotransmitters (serotonin, adrenaline, noradrenaline, acetilcholine, etc.) similar symptoms like yours can occur.
It can be called anxiety (in everyday life), but it fact it is just a functional dysfunction of our brain.
There are several drugs which can help stabilize this dysfunction. They are called antidepressants, as their main action is to treat depression. But in fact their mechanism of action is stabilizing the neurotransmitters in the brain, achieving the desired balance, in order to have a normal function of the brain.
So, just relax and do not worry about it.
I recommend consulting with a specialist of this field (psychiatrist) in order to focus on your anxiety and try to manage it.
I would be happy to review your cardiac performed tests for another second professional opinion, as I am a professional cardiologist.
Another test to try is taking Xanax (or alprazolam) 0.25-0.5mg. If your symptoms are relieved by this drug, this means that it is just anxiety (or a functional dysfunction of your brain as you are a sensible person).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
I am at your disposal for any other questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I know I do suffer with anxiety and I've had many cardiac tests ekg, stress test, echo, stress echo, holter; all normal but I over studied about scad and can't seem to stop worrying about my symptoms. xanax does help occasionally but not always which worries me more. I just don't want to be overlooked because if my age. I'm constantly scared of just dropping dead due to my heart. not sure how to get past this. thank you for being so sympathetic and through.
Brief Answer:
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the additional information!
I would explain that it is not just about age. As I already explained before, your symptoms are not typical of any cardiac disorders.
All your performed tests have resulted normal. This means that you do not suffer from any cardiac disorder.
As a cardiologist I can assure you about that! You are not going to die from a heart attack! It is not going to happen as you have a perfectly normal heart and perfect coronary arteries (resulted by your tests).
Anxiety does not cause heart attack or sudden death. It is just an irrational fear! That is all!
You should try to beat this fear.
The main thing to do is to focus on your anxiety.
There are many types of psychotherapy (behavioral therapy) which can help you manage your fears.
Besides, Yoga and a lot of physical activity can really help you. They act by increasing the active regions in the brain, thus leading to an increase of neurotransmitters. This makes physical activity play a similar role as antidepressants. So, what are you waiting for?!
Go out there and enjoy your life!
You are a perfectly normal young woman, blessed with a healthy body.
It is all about managing your thoughts. You are the boss of your thoughts!
If you can not do this alone, the next step is consulting with a psychiatrist as they are specialists of this field. I know how hard it is. But it is all about neurotransmitters. You just need to make a little order in your brain cells. Antidepressants can help for this purpose. If you are taking any, you may need to make further changes to your therapy.
Hope to have clarified some of your uncertainties!
I am always at your disposal whenever you need me again!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the additional information!
I would explain that it is not just about age. As I already explained before, your symptoms are not typical of any cardiac disorders.
All your performed tests have resulted normal. This means that you do not suffer from any cardiac disorder.
As a cardiologist I can assure you about that! You are not going to die from a heart attack! It is not going to happen as you have a perfectly normal heart and perfect coronary arteries (resulted by your tests).
Anxiety does not cause heart attack or sudden death. It is just an irrational fear! That is all!
You should try to beat this fear.
The main thing to do is to focus on your anxiety.
There are many types of psychotherapy (behavioral therapy) which can help you manage your fears.
Besides, Yoga and a lot of physical activity can really help you. They act by increasing the active regions in the brain, thus leading to an increase of neurotransmitters. This makes physical activity play a similar role as antidepressants. So, what are you waiting for?!
Go out there and enjoy your life!
You are a perfectly normal young woman, blessed with a healthy body.
It is all about managing your thoughts. You are the boss of your thoughts!
If you can not do this alone, the next step is consulting with a psychiatrist as they are specialists of this field. I know how hard it is. But it is all about neurotransmitters. You just need to make a little order in your brain cells. Antidepressants can help for this purpose. If you are taking any, you may need to make further changes to your therapy.
Hope to have clarified some of your uncertainties!
I am always at your disposal whenever you need me again!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you. I just started lexapro about 5 days ago, but this is my first time trying antidepressants. what about the occasional chest pain/ pressure I get with shortness of breath. is that just anxiety as well. I read that SCAD happens to young women who are perfectly healthy.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Regarding SCAD, you should know that this disorder is detected by the cardiac tests that you have already performed.
As they have resulted normal, this disorder has been excluded.
So relax and do no think about it any more!
Anxiety can cause all your symptoms and much more. It can mimic a lot of symptoms involving the heart, the brain, the limbs, the eyes, the digestive system, singultus, etc..
But it is just anxiety and all the tests result normal (as in your case).
Our brain controls all our organs. It can play funny games sometimes.
Regarding Lexapro, I would recommend you to be patient as it usually shows its effects after a couple of weeks from starting taking it.
So, I am sure that after some days you will feel much better, and these bad thought will seem to be just a bad nightmare.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Regarding SCAD, you should know that this disorder is detected by the cardiac tests that you have already performed.
As they have resulted normal, this disorder has been excluded.
So relax and do no think about it any more!
Anxiety can cause all your symptoms and much more. It can mimic a lot of symptoms involving the heart, the brain, the limbs, the eyes, the digestive system, singultus, etc..
But it is just anxiety and all the tests result normal (as in your case).
Our brain controls all our organs. It can play funny games sometimes.
Regarding Lexapro, I would recommend you to be patient as it usually shows its effects after a couple of weeks from starting taking it.
So, I am sure that after some days you will feel much better, and these bad thought will seem to be just a bad nightmare.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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