Is Right Shoulder Pain a Sign of a Heart Attack?

The common term “heartache” is normally associated with emotional pain. However, in medicine, when a heart attack occurs, in addition to the typical symptoms of chest tightness and chest pain, there may also be some “atypical” pain, including pain in right shoulder. This seemingly ordinary shoulder discomfort is sometimes the invisible “alarm” issued by the heart.

As you see this, perhaps many people will be puzzled: how the right shoulder pain and heart disease related to it? This is actually closely related to the distribution of nerves in the human body. The nerve endings of the heart and shoulder are interlocked with each other, so when there is a problem with the heart, the pain signal may be transmitted along these nerves, thus causing shoulder pain. This is known medically as “referred pain”.

So, is right shoulder pain a sign of heart attack or not? The answer is not simple. There is indeed a link between right shoulder pain and heart disease, but that doesn't mean that the onset of right shoulder pain is necessarily heart disease. Let's continue along with Fivali to find out!

Reasons for Right Shoulder Pain

Right shoulder pain do not only affect our daily life but may also reduce our quality of life. The level and nature of pain varies and may be dull, sharp or aching. The pain may be in the shoulder joint area or it may extend to the arm or neck. It may be accompanied by stiffness in the shoulder, limited range of motion in the shoulder joint and weakness in lifting heavy objects.

Some of the common causes of the above symptoms are:

1. Frozen shoulder

It is a common disease of the shoulder joint. It is recognized by the gradual development of pain in the shoulder joint, especially at night, with a gradual decrease in the range of motion of the shoulder joint, which eventually leads to stiffness and limited movement of the shoulder joint.

2. Swimmer's shoulder

Swimmer's shoulder is a more common shoulder injury experienced by swimmers, mainly due to the repeated over-head movements of the shoulder joint during swimming, that result in problems such as subacromial bursitis and rotator cuff injuries, which can cause shoulder pain and dysfunction.

Injuries associated with swimmer’s shoulder include:

• Impingement syndrome: A tendon in the shoulder rubs and catches on surrounding tissue when a person lifts their arm.
• Labral injuries: A tear occurs in a piece of cartilage called the labrum, which sits inside the shoulder socket.
• Shoulder instability: The structures around the shoulder joint are not effective in keeping the upper arm bone in the shoulder socket.

3. Rotator cuff tendonitis

Rotator cuff tendonitis (RCT) credible source refers to irritation or inflammation of the rotator cuff. This condition is a particularly common among elite athletes and those who regularly play certain sports. The rotator cuff is the set of muscles and tendons that surround and support the shoulder joint. They work together to help hold the upper arm bone firmly in the shoulder socket.

4. Fracture

A shoulder fracture, or broken bone, may involve the collarbone, shoulder blade, or humerus (the bone extending from the shoulder to the elbow). A broken collarbone or humerus may occur from a fall or a car accident. While a shoulder blade is more difficult to fracture, the condition can result from a high-speed car accident.

Depending on the type of fracture, symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Limited range of motion
• Bruising

When Right Shoulder Pain May Signal Heart Disease?

Right shoulder pain is not always a sign of heart disease, but when it occurs in conjunction with the following symptoms, you need to pay attention and seek immediate medical attention.

Chest pain: It is one of the most common symptoms of heart disease which is usually characterized by a squeezing and tightening sensation in the chest, and sometimes even radiates to the arms, shoulders, neck, and jaw.

Palpitations: It simply means feeling that your heart is beating faster, your heart rhythm is irregular or your heart misses a beat.

Fatigue and weakness: Persistent fatigue and weakness.

Relieve Shoulder Pain and Regain a Healthy Life

• Maintain proper posture

The correct posture is the key to avoiding and relieving shoulder pain. Chronic poor posture can put excessive stress on shoulder muscles and joints, and result in muscle tension, strain, and even more serious shoulder conditions. With correct posture, you can help maintain the equilibrium of the shoulder muscles and prevent certain muscles from being over-stressed. Excellent posture distributes the stress placed on the shoulder joint and reduces wear and tear. It also helps to improve blood circulation in the shoulder, facilitate muscle recovery and repair, as well as effectively prevent shoulder diseases such as frozen shoulder and rotator cuff injury.

• Balanced diet

While maintaining a healthy shoulder, in addition to proper posture and moderate exercise, diet also plays an important role. Getting a well-balanced diet can provide the body with sufficient energy and nutritional substances to maintain muscle and bone health and minimize the occurrence of shoulder pain. Sufficient energy can support normal muscle contraction and relaxation, which can reduce muscle fatigue and soreness. At the same time, foods rich in protein, such as meat, fish and beans, are required for muscle repair and growth, which can strengthen the shoulder muscles.

• Donning shoulder braces

Shoulder braces can be an effective way to prevent and relieve right shoulder joint pain. It is like putting an “armor” on the shoulder, which can play the role of supporting, protecting and fixing the shoulder, reducing the burden on the shoulder and thus relieving pain.

Shoulder braces can offer additional support for the shoulder and alleviate the pressure on the shoulder joint, especially for those with weak or injured shoulders, shoulder braces can play a very good protective role. Shoulder brace for pain also immobilize the joint, limiting excessive range of motion and preventing instability of the shoulder joint, thus relieving pain. In addition, some functional shoulder braces promote blood circulation in the shoulder through the action of compression, accelerating recovery.

Fivali Health Tips:

Fivali is a health brand that focuses on elevating the quality of people's lives. As we know, health is the most important asset in life, while the health of our shoulders directly affects our quality of life. It is based on this philosophy that Fivali has launched a series of health products, including shoulder braces.

✧ Fivali Double Shoulder Compression Sleeve for Sports and Daily Lives