Pain in Left Arm!!

Some people experience pain in left arm and immediately think it might be related to a heart problem. Although that is one possibility, there are other factors that can cause arm pain, whether it is unilateral (affects only one arm) or bilateral (affects both arms).

Pain in left arm can also be an acute or a chronic condition. Sudden or short lasting arm pain is said to be acute while one that persists for over three months is considered to be chronic. In some cases, pain just comes and goes, while in some people, pain may become progressive and debilitating.

Pain in left arm may be experience by anyone, but it is more common among women who are about forty years old. It may be a mild and dull type of pain, but in others it could be a sharp, shooting pain that can be severe. The pain may affect any part of the arm or the whole arm, from the fingertips to the shoulder.

Although home treatments sometimes relieve the pain, it is always best to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment, especially if the pain is severe or chronic in nature.

Causes of and Treatments of Pain in Left Arm

1. Heart Attack

A myocardial infarction or heart attack occurs when the heart muscles are deprived of oxygen supply due to poor circulation, resulting in the death of the heart muscle cells. This can be due to a blood clot in one of the coronary arteries (blood vessel in the heart) or a spasm or severe constriction of these arteries. A heart attack may occur during intense activity or at rest, and it may also be triggered by emotions. Symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain, which can radiate to the left arm, back, jaw or throat. The chest pain may be felt as a squeezing or heavy type of pain underneath the breastbone. It may also be accompanied by sweating, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. However, some people do not experience these symptoms and are said to suffer from a silent myocardial infarction.

Treatment of a heart attack should be done immediately, because it can be fatal. Emergency medical services (911) must be called so that blood circulation to the heart may be restored. Treatment includes the use of special medications to dissolve blood clots, improve heart function, relieve pain and prevent abnormal heart rhythms. Sometimes a surgical procedure called angioplasty may be done to widen the narrow or blocked arteries in the heart. But in cases where there is a severe, life threatening blockage of arteries, a heart bypass surgery may be done.

2. Angina

Angina pectoris (chest pain) or angina is a characteristic symptom of coronary artery disease, which is often described as a chest discomfort or a heavy sensation in the chest. It can be perceived as pressure, burning, aching, squeezing, fullness, or a painful sensation that is related to a reduction in blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart. Although often felt in the chest, the pain or discomfort may radiate to the upper abdomen (often mistaken for indigestion), the left shoulder, left arm, neck, jaw and back.

The treatment of angina involves a combination of special medications and lifestyle changes to improve blood circulation to the heart. Medications include those needed to control the amount of oxygen to the heart, like nitrates, beta-blockers, ranolazine and calcium channel blockers. In order to prevent blood clots formation, medications like antiplatelet medications are used. Lifestyle changes should include adapting a healthy diet, exercising regularly, stress reduction, and quitting smoking. However, in some people, angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery may be needed to prevent a possible heart attack.

3. Stress or Panic Attack

Sometimes too much stress can cause a panic attack that may feel like one is having a heart attack. This may include symptoms of sweating, palpitations, chest heaviness and pain in left arm, which could be mistaken for angina or heart attack. However, closer medical examination may show no evidence of heart problems but indicate more of a psychological issue.

Treatment for extreme stress and panic attacks includes managing stress with these techniques and principles:

Avoiding unnecessary stress
Altering stressful situations
Adapting to known stressors
Accepting the things you cannot change
Making time for relaxation and fun
Adapting a healthy lifestyle
Often enough, adapting a healthy lifestyle is the most effective and natural way of managing stress that leads to panic attacks. This involves eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting enough rest and sleep, and avoiding alcohol, cigarettes or drugs that can harm the body.

4. Physical Injuries and Overuse

Physical injuries or overuse of the body involving the left side can result in pain in left arm. These include:

Mastectomy (breast removal surgery). Women who have breast cancer and have undergone surgical removal of the left breast may experience left arm pain.
Left Brachial Plexus Injury. Injury to the nerve network that sends neural signals to your left shoulder and arm from the spine may be due to overstretching. Sometimes, these structures can get torn or severely injured, especially during contact sports. Although some of these injuries may heal on their own, surgery may be required for severe damage.
Broken Arm, Wrist or Hand. Injury to the arm, wrist or hand that results in fracture or other severe trauma will lead to pain in left arm that needs immediate medical attention.
Strains/Sprains. These common injuries often result from sports or other strenuous activities. A sprain occurs when ligaments are overstretched, while a strain occurs when muscles or tendons are torn. These are self-healing injuries, but you must rest the arm and avoid using it to prevent pain from becoming persistent or worse.
Rotator Cuff Injury. The shoulder is stabilized by a group of muscles called the rotator cuff. Injury to these muscles can cause severe shoulder and arm pain, which could become persistent. This must be treated immediately with pain medications and physical therapy.
Tendinitis. Inflammation of the tendons, which attach our muscles to the bone in the shoulder or arm may be caused by sudden injury or repetitious use of the body part. This condition, known as tendinitis, or tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, pitcher's shoulder, swimmer's shoulder, may cause pain in left arm, which should be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy.

5. Bad Circulation

Poor circulation in the arm may be due to many causes and can lead to pain. The most common ones include: constriction of blood vessels, which may be due to extremely cold temperatures, physical trauma, or disease, deficiency of essential nutrients, certain medications and substances, blood clot formation and improper sleeping position.

To prevent pain in left arm due to poor circulation, you must take good care of your health by following a balanced diet to avoid nutritional deficiency and taking nutritional supplements like gingko biloba and vitamin C to improve blood vessels function. It is also advisable to wear comfortable clothes and to protect yourself from cold temperatures. Avoid taking caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine, which can constrict blood vessels. Massaging the arm with warm olive oil before going to bed is a great way to promote good arm circulation, too. Finally, exercise will help improve blood circulation not only to the arm, but the whole body as well.

Poor arm circulation might be an indication of some underlying disease. It is best to visit a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

6. Improper Sleeping Posture

This often causes pinching of a nerve in the arm that may cause a sensation of numbness or pain in left arm. Try to adapt a better sleeping position that does not cause pressure on your hand or arm.


7. Medication Side Effects

Medications sometimes cause side effects, including pain in the extremities. If you suspect that your medication is causing this side effect, ask your doctor about substituting your drug for another if possible.


When to See a Doctor

Not all cases of pain in left arm are due to a heart problem such as a heart attack. It may be a simple case of poor posture when sleeping but it may also be a sign of another disease. However, you should see a doctor when your arm, shoulder or back is suddenly or severely painful, especially if it is accompanied by a feeling of fullness, pressure, or squeezing in the chest, which may signal a heart attack. Another urgent reason to see a doctor is after an injury, which causes an obvious deformity, bleeding or other injuries.

Schedule a medical appointment for less urgent causes like left arm pain that does not improve with home treatments done for several days, persistent or increasing swelling or pain, and other injuries that do not respond to usual care.

Read More

Heart Attacks and Symptoms!1

More than a million Americans have heart attacks each year. A heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI), is permanent damage to the heart muscle. "Myo" means muscle, "cardial" refers to the heart, and "infarction" means death of tissue due to lack of blood supply.

What Happens During a Heart Attack?

The heart muscle requires a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood to nourish it. The coronary arteries provide the heart with this critical blood supply. If you have coronary artery disease, those arteries become narrow and blood cannot flow as well as they should. Fatty matter, calcium, proteins, and inflammatory cells build up within the arteries to form plaques of different sizes. The plaque deposits are hard on the outside and soft and mushy on the inside.

When the plaque is hard, the outer shell cracks (plaque rupture), platelets (disc-shaped particles in the blood that aid clotting) come to the area, and blood clots form around the plaque. If a blood clot totally blocks the artery, the heart muscle becomes "starved" for oxygen. Within a short time, death of heart muscle cells occurs, causing permanent damage. This is a heart attack.

While it is unusual, a heart attack can also be caused by a spasm of a coronary artery. During a coronary spasm, the coronary arteries restrict or spasm on and off, reducing blood supply to the heart muscle (ischemia). It may occur at rest, and can even occur in people without significant coronary artery disease.

Each coronary artery supplies blood to a region of heart muscle. The amount of damage to the heart muscle depends on the size of the area supplied by the blocked artery and the time between injury and treatment.

Healing of the heart muscle begins soon after a heart attack and takes about eight weeks. Just like a skin wound, the heart's wound heals and a scar will form in the damaged area. But, the new scar tissue does not contract. So, the heart's pumping ability is lessened after a heart attack. The amount of lost pumping ability depends on the size and location of the scar.


Heart Attack Symptoms

Symptoms of a heart attack include:

Discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or pain in the chest, arm, or below the breastbone
Discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat, or arm
Fullness, indigestion, or choking feeling (may feel like heartburn)
Sweating, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness
Extreme weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath
Rapid or irregular heartbeats
During a heart attack, symptoms last 30 minutes or longer and are not relieved by rest or nitroglycerin under the tongue.

Some people have a heart attack without having any symptoms (a "silent" myocardial infarction). A silent MI can occur in anyone, but it is more common among people with diabetes

Read More

One Step""

Foolish people with all their other thoughts, have this one too: They are always getting ready to live, but never living.

Your success will start when you begin to pursue it. To reach your goal or to attain success, you don’t need to know all of the answers in advance. You just need to have a clear idea of what your goal is.

Don’t procrastinate when faced with difficult problems. Break your problems into parts, and handle one part at a time.

Develop tendencies toward taking action. You can make something happen right now. Divide your big plan into small steps and take that first step right away.

Everyone who ever got where they are had to begin where they were. Your big opportunity is where you are right now.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Take it.

Read More

Love in action#@

One night a man came to our house and told me, “There is a family with eight children. They have not eaten for days,” I took some food and I went. When I finally came to the family, I saw the faces of those little children disfigured by hunger. There was no sorrow or sadness in their faces, just the deep pain of hunger. I gave the rice to the mother. She divided it in two, and went out, carrying half the rice with her. When she came back, I asked her, “Where did you go?” She gave me this simple answer, “To my neighbors-they are hungry also.”

I was not surprised that she gave–because poor people are generous. But I was surprised that she knew they were hungry. As a rule, when we are suffering, we are so focused on ourselves we have no time for others.

Read More

Angels##

Barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak, she never said a word. Many people passed, but never did one person stop.

Just so happens the next day I decided to go back to the park, curious if the little girl would still be there.

Right in the very spot as she was yesterday she sat perched on high, with the saddest look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. As we all know a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play.

As I began walking towards her I could see the back of the little girl’s dress indicated a deformity. I figured that was the reason the people just passed by and made no effort to help. As I got closer, the little girl slightly lowered her eyes to avoid my intent stare. I could see the shape of her back more clearly. It was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was ok, I was there to help, to talk.

I sat down beside her and opened with a simple Hello. The little girl acted shocked and stammered a hi after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked ’til darkness fell and the park was completely empty. Everyone was gone and we were alone. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me and with a sad face said “Because I’m different.”

I immediately said “that you are!” and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder, she said, “I know.” “Little girl,” I said, “you remind me of an angel, she stood to her feet, and said, “Really?”

“Yes, ma’am, you’re like a little guardian angel sent to watch over all those people walking by.” She nodded her head yes and smiled, and with that she spread her wings and said with a twinkle in her eye, “I am.” I was speechless, sure I was seeing things. She said, “And since you thought of someone other than yourself, my job here is done.”

Immediately I stood to my feet and said, “Wait, so why did no one stop to help an angel?” She looked at me and smiled, “You’re the only one who could see me, and you believe it in your heart.” And She was gone. And with that my life was changed dramatically.

So, when you think you’re all you have, remember, there is an angel always watching over you.

Pass this to everyone that means anything at all to you…. to let them know you’re glad they care about you… like the story says we all need someone.

Everyone of your friends is an angel in their own.

Read More

A Little Girl~~

Have you ever not wanted to do something so badly that you would rather die than go? Well that’s how I felt about joining Madcaps and volunteering at Saint Vincent De Paul Homeless shelter.

But now I believe that you should have an open mind to things because in the end you might just end up enjoying it.

“It’s a waste of time”, I said when my mom told I had to join Madcaps, a mothers and daughters club assisting philanthropies, and then when she told me I had to volunteer at a homeless shelter I thought this just could not get worse.

We got there late, of course, and walked to the dirty homeless shelter, where we saw a lady yelling at the security guard. He dealt with her and then lead us to the kitchen where we ran into my five fellow Madcaps class of 2017 mothers and daughters. Since I’m usually so socially awkward I had met only one person at the pool party, earlier this year. I looked around for her but she was not there. Damn, I was alone!

When the head of the kitchen came out and asked for 3 mothers to work outside the kitchen to clean up the plates and silverware, my mom just so happened to volunteer, leaving me to serve food with people I had never met before.

Soon the homeless families started to walk in and a little girl, around 5 years old, walked up and pointed to the food I was handing out. I handed her the cold sandwich, wrapped in the sticky plastic, she nodded in a form of saying thanks, and then walked to join her family at the large table.

As she walked away I thought of how much I had. I get to go to one of the top schools in San Diego, I have a great house by the water, and I have a warm meal every night. Then I thought of how little she had. She probably didn’t go to school, and this is where she sleeps and eats every day. It took that little girl to make me realize just how lucky I am.

After that moment I had a change of heart. Now, I love Madcaps and don’t miss one meeting, I have gotten over being socially awkward and now have many friends, who I hang out with on a regular basis. And this year I am sure I will do more than the required 20 hours of philanthropies.

I believe that if you have an open mind about things you can learn a lot about yourself and the people in your community, you can make new friends and realize just how lucky you are. I believe that if you have an open mind to things you can accomplish more and become a better rounded person. I believe you can make a difference just by doing one thing you don’t want to do.

Read More

A Message!!

I never thought I would be writing about a trip to the convenient store, but this trip was like no other. It seemed like a typical November day, two years ago, as I walked out of Walgreens. It was just a month after my grandmother had passed away and I spent my days running useless errands hoping to fill the void in my heart and distract me from the pain.

As I attempted to walk out of the store, I was frustrated by everything that was going on around me which was a very common feeling during this time. I was angry because I couldn’t even remember what I went there to buy so I ended up spending over $20 on nonsense just to waste time and money, both of which I didn’t have.

I was mad and confused at everyone. Especially, the young girl walking through the store holding her grandmother’s hand. The little girl was begging her grandmother for ice cream just like I use to when I was little, before I was old enough to know that there are bigger problems than a lack of sugar. There is heartache and pain in this world. Before I was old enough to understand that one day my grandmother wouldn’t be here with me. “Here is $20 my sweetie,” the woman said, “Keep it for later and well get you some Mr. Softy.”

As I carried on, I remembered all of the times my cousins and I would play outside of my grandma’s house, waiting patiently to hear the sounds of the Mr. Softy truck. The minute we heard it, no matter how far it may have been, we would run inside smothering my grandma with hugs and kisses while begging for some money. No matter how many times she would say, “Remember kids, no ice cream today,” everyday we would ask and every time she would always end up giving each of us exactly $20. Obviously, we all know that ice cream doesn’t cost this much, but that was my grandma, always giving more than she ever had to give.

Who knew that I, an 18 year old, could be jealous of a three-year-old little girl wearing pink slippers and a Dora the Explorer backpack, but I was, because at the end of the day she had something I didn’t have anymore. A grandmother by her side.

I had to force myself to ignore the little girl who others kept calling “cute” and “adorable” when I simply thought she was nothing but obnoxious. She was just too happy for me and that was unacceptable, at this time, in my world.

I continued to the register to pay for my things, none of which I even remembered picking until I placed them on the counter. It was than that my anger quickly shifted from the little girl who seemed to have everything to the cashier who didn’t have anything, not even my change. She had to bring my things to another register which just felt like a waste of time. Everything felt like a waste of my time. When the cashier gave me my change I didn’t say thank you. I didn’t say have a good day. I simply took my change and left.

Feeling exhausted and hopeless, I began walking to my car. Every step seemed draining, and every step was another to survive. As I looked up into the sky I thought about how my grandmother had left me, and my anger began to return. I was outraged by the loss, and my belief in God was beginning to diminish. I couldn’t understand why these things happened. So as I stood in a public parking lot a million questions formed in my mind. Why did this happen to me? Aren’t we supposed to get signs from the people that pass on? Why did I not feel her presence anymore? Is there a heaven?

Suddenly, a woman driving right by my side rolled down her window and distracted my unanswered thoughts. “Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me,” she said loudly. Thinking she was going to ask for my parking spot, I simply pointed to my car. The thought of having to verbalize where my car was seemed like too much to bear. “No, excuse me,” she said again. At this point, I felt I had no choice but to see what this annoying lady wanted. As I got closer though I was startled-was this my grandmother’s nurse, Adu, who lived with her during her final months? I soon realized that she wasn’t, although the resemblance was uncanny. Then, I realized that this Adu look a like was searching for something in her bag. Surprisingly, I was overcome by a sense a relief that lead me to be patient the entire time the lady was searching. Others would be nervous by a stranger reaching in their bag unanimously, but I wasn’t. Under a clutter of makeup, money, pens, and other belongings, she finally reached to the very bottom of her bag and handed me a three page booklet. “It looks like you need this,” she said calmly with a warm smile on her face.

I looked down at the mysterious and obviously used pamphlet and on the front cover in big bold letters read “What Hope for Dead Loved Ones?”

It took me only a few seconds to comprehend the exchange with this woman, but by the time I looked up, she was gone.

I walked slowly into my car gripping the tiny little book that was given to me with fear that it would fly away in the wind. I didn’t know what it was exactly, but I knew that if my grandmother had anything to do with this that I didn’t want to let it go.

I felt a sense of relaxation as I opened the first page. It explained how people pass on, but their spirit remains with us. This was the first time since my grandma had passed that I felt her with me, just like I had wanted. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but I did know that I finally felt happiness from the surprising change in events.

I couldn’t, and still can’t, believe what had happened to me on that day. I don’t remember the specific details that you usually hear about like what the person was wearing, the time of day, or even the weather, but it doesn’t matter. It was a random day in November when my life turned back around and I began to feel hope again. It was real. It was a miracle. And, I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.

Read More

Two castle Builders!!

A little boy is on his knees scooping and packing the sand with plastic shovels into a bright blue bucket. Then he upends the bucket on the surface and lifts it. And, to the delight of the little architect, a castle tower is created.

All afternoon he will work. Spooning out the moat. Packing the walls. Bottle tops will be sentries. Popsicle sticks will be bridges. A sandcastle will be built.

A man is in his office. At his desk he shuffles papers into stacks and delegates assignments. He cradles the phone on his shoulder and punches the keyboard with his fingers. Numbers are juggled and contracts are signed and much to the delight of the man, a profit is made.

All his life he will work. Formulating the plans. Forecasting the future. Annuities will be sentries. Capital gains will be bridges. An empire will be built.

Two builders of two castles. They have much in common. They shape granules into grandeurs. They see nothing and make something. They are diligent and determined. And for both the tide will rise and the end will come.

Yet that is where the similarities cease. For the boy sees the end while the man ignores it. Watch the boy as the dusk approaches.

As the waves near, the wise child jumps to his feet and begins to clap. There is no sorrow. No fear. No regret. He knew this would happen. He is not surprised. And when the great breaker crashes into his castle and his masterpiece is sucked into the sea, he smiles. He smiles, picks up his tools, takes his father’s hand, and goes home.

The grownup, however, is not so wise. As the wave of years collapses on his castle he is terrified. He hovers over the sandy monument to protect it. He blocks the waves from the walls he has made. Salt-water soaked and shivering he snarls at the incoming tide.

“It’s my castle,” he defies.

The ocean need not respond. Both know to whom the sand belongs…

I don’t know much about sandcastles. But children do. Watch them and learn. Go ahead and build, but build with a child’s heart. When the sun sets and the tides take – applaud. Salute the process of life and go home.

Read More

Elephant:

The class teacher asks students to name an animal that begins with an “E”. One boy says, “Elephant.”

Then the teacher asks for an animal that begins with a “T”. The same boy says, “Two elephants.”

The teacher sends the boy out of the class for bad behavior. After that she asks for an animal beginning with “M”.

The boy shouts from the other side of the wall: “Maybe an elephant!”

Read More