During a heart attack, pain is most commonly felt in the left arm. This arm pain happens because the nerves from the heart and those from the left arm send signals to the same brain cells, causing the brain to interpret pain from the heart as coming from the left arm. The pain can feel like a dull ache, heaviness, pressure, or a shooting pain that may radiate from the shoulder down the arm. Although the left arm is more frequently affected, in some cases, people can also feel pain in the right arm or both arms. The arm pain associated with a heart attack usually does not improve with movement or pressing on the area, distinguishing it from muscle pain which tends to worsen with movement. This heart-related pain is often accompanied by other symptoms such as chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, or a feeling of impending doom. If you experience unexplained arm pain, especially in the left arm, combined with other symptoms like chest discomfort or difficulty breathing, it is critical to seek emergency medical care immediately as it could be a sign of a heart attack.