Is There a Link Between Back Pain & Heart Conditions?
Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
We talked in a previous blog about the possible link between back pain and heart attacks. Now we are going to discuss other heart conditions as they relate to back pain. In this article, we will discuss the potential connection between back pain and various heart conditions.
Back Pain & Related Conditions
As we have discussed many times on this site, back pain is a complex entity. It can be caused by many different conditions and injuries, and be associated with seemingly unrelated symptoms. Tracing the pain back to its source can help determine the best course for treating the pain and any related symptoms and conditions of the spine or other areas of the body.
Heart Conditions
Back pain is not a classic symptom of a heart attack (like chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath), but it can indicate other heart problems. Here are some heart conditions that can present with back pain:
- Heart Muscle Disease.
- Atrial Fibrillation.
- Heart Palpitations.
- Artery Disease.
Back pain may not be the most common symptom of these heart conditions but it may be a secondary or tertiary sign.
Back Pain & Heart Conditions
It is also possible to have back pain from a spine condition and a heart condition at the same time. A pre-existing back condition may cause back pain to present during a heart attack or other condition. For example, a patient with a herniated spinal disc who goes into cardiac arrest may experience back pain in addition to the classic heart attack symptoms. If you are experiencing episodes of back pain, make an appointment with a spine physician. There are numerous potential causes of the pain, and it’s best to address the pain head on and find an effective way to treat the pain.
If you ever believe your chest pain or any symptoms are cardiac related, it’s safer to get that checked out first, emergently if necessary. Here is a link to danger sign symptoms on the American Heart Association website: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/911-Warnings-Signs-of-a-Heart-Attack_UCM_305346_SubHomePage.jsp.
