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What Causes Aches In The Left Arm While Smoking?

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Posted on Wed, 15 Jul 2015
Question: aches in my left arm when i smoke E cigs
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
cannot say in your particular case

Detailed Answer:
and... left arm pain is the area that tends to occur from heart trouble... smoking, age 69.. it's at least possible. It is a reason for a standard stress test. The stress tests are not considered all that great BUT they ARE reliable for determining if someone is very LOW risk of heart disease. Those with a negative test after high levels of exertion have a very low risk for the next several years of heart disease.

Then... the two other more likely causes of arm pain after any smoking are a diaphram issue... and irritation of the lungs or even just inhaling too hard or any asthma can irritate the muscle at the bottom of the lungs and this often is felt as arm and/or shoulder or upper back pain. This is especially true (and MUCH LESS LIKELY TO BE HEART) if the pain is in unison with the breathing... breath..pain.. breath .. pain with the pain just iwth the breath and lasting seconds.. not likely to be anything but lung.

and... reflux is another possibility. Nicotine is a stimulant of digestion and that can be felt with reflux in a wide variety of areas. If it occurs with eating and relieved with antacids... can still be heart but it isn't very likely.
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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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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What Causes Aches In The Left Arm While Smoking?

Brief Answer: cannot say in your particular case Detailed Answer: and... left arm pain is the area that tends to occur from heart trouble... smoking, age 69.. it's at least possible. It is a reason for a standard stress test. The stress tests are not considered all that great BUT they ARE reliable for determining if someone is very LOW risk of heart disease. Those with a negative test after high levels of exertion have a very low risk for the next several years of heart disease. Then... the two other more likely causes of arm pain after any smoking are a diaphram issue... and irritation of the lungs or even just inhaling too hard or any asthma can irritate the muscle at the bottom of the lungs and this often is felt as arm and/or shoulder or upper back pain. This is especially true (and MUCH LESS LIKELY TO BE HEART) if the pain is in unison with the breathing... breath..pain.. breath .. pain with the pain just iwth the breath and lasting seconds.. not likely to be anything but lung. and... reflux is another possibility. Nicotine is a stimulant of digestion and that can be felt with reflux in a wide variety of areas. If it occurs with eating and relieved with antacids... can still be heart but it isn't very likely.