Can heart disease cause numbness in the hands?

Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
Updated on December 24, 2024
00:00
00:00

Heart disease, such as coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, can potentially cause numbness in the hands. When angina or myocardial infarction of coronary heart disease occurs, there is often severe chest pain. This chest pain may be accompanied by pain and numbness in the left shoulder or left hand. During episodes of pain, an electrocardiogram often shows significant ST depression or ST elevation. This condition is commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly patients. In addition, cervical spondylosis can also cause numbness in the hands, often seen in young people who spend long periods looking down at their mobile phones or using computers, usually showing symptoms of neck pain. A cervical spine MRI can often determine whether cervical spondylosis is causing these symptoms.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
37sec home-news-image

Can people with heart disease drink alcohol?

Patients with heart disease should not drink alcohol, especially those with severe heart conditions, including heart failure and arrhythmias. Drinking alcohol can excite the sympathetic nervous system, increase heart rate, enhance myocardial oxygen consumption, increase cardiac burden, and worsen arrhythmias and heart failure. Additionally, patients with organic heart disease who regularly require medication should avoid alcohol. Alcohol can chemically interact with certain medications or reduce their effectiveness, potentially harming the body.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
55sec home-news-image

Is congenital heart disease heart cancer?

Congenital heart disease primarily refers to the abnormal development of the heart and blood vessels during the fetal period, leading to cardiovascular malformations. It is the most common type of heart disease in children, with an incidence rate of about 6-8 per 1,000 live births. Generally, congenital heart disease refers to malformations during the development of the fetal heart. The exact causes of this condition are still not completely understood. However, actively preventing viral infectious diseases in the early stages of pregnancy and avoiding certain high-risk factors associated with the disease play a significant role in preventing congenital heart disease in children. It should be noted that congenital heart disease represents malformations in the development of the heart and is not a form of heart cancer, hence there is no terminology that describes it as such.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
44sec home-news-image

How to prevent heart disease

In clinical settings, heart diseases include congenital heart disease, coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, pneumonic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, etc. Some diseases are preventable, such as the most common coronary heart disease. The occurrence of coronary heart disease is due to long-term lipid metabolism disorders and increased blood lipids, which cause arteriosclerosis and subsequent coronary atherosclerosis, leading to insufficient myocardial blood supply and myocardial damage. Preventing and treating hyperlipidemia and reducing arteriosclerosis can decrease the incidence of coronary heart disease.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Cai Li E
Cardiology
1min 22sec home-news-image

How long does heart disease generally hurt?

1. Chest pain caused by angina due to coronary heart disease is located in the middle to lower third of the sternum, with unclear boundaries. It is often triggered by physical activities or emotional excitement and may radiate to the throat, lower jaw, left shoulder, and inner side of the left arm. The pain lasts for a few minutes to more than ten minutes, typically between three to five minutes, and rarely exceeds half an hour. It can be relieved by rest or by taking nitroglycerin under the tongue. The nature of the pain is feelings of stuffiness, pressure, or constriction, and may also feel like a burning sensation, but is not sharp like needle pricks or cuts. 2. The location and nature of the chest pain in acute myocardial infarction are the same as with angina, but it lasts longer, is more severe, and its triggers are less evident. It can occur even while at rest, accompanied by symptoms such as sweating, nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, and difficulty breathing. Unlike with angina, regular rest or taking nitroglycerin under the tongue does not completely alleviate the pain.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
43sec home-news-image

What should be noted for rheumatic heart disease?

Rheumatic heart disease is caused by valvular pathology and often affects heart function. It is important to rest regularly, avoid overexertion, wear more clothing to prevent colds, and avoid exposure to cold winds. Each occurrence of a cold can exacerbate rheumatic heart disease. Dietary attention should focus on easily digestible, high-nutrient foods. Avoid consuming spicy and greasy foods, as they can lead to indigestion and gastrointestinal irritation, which can worsen symptoms of heart disease and increase the cardiac burden, bringing about adverse factors for the patient.