Symptoms are useful indicators of disease processes because we can often predict the reason for change in sensation. For instance, a tingling feeling is commonly indicative of decreased blood flow to a specific group of nerve fibers. Similarly, the sensation of being light-headed is consistently and demonstrably linked to decreased blood flow to the brain. In this way, the indication that a disease process effecting the heart is causing the symptoms of arms tingling and feeling light-headed is based on a mechanistic correlation between the observed symptoms, and the underlying pathophysiology.
The Sensation of Light-Headedness
Feeling faint, dizzy or lightheaded are commonly observed symptoms resulting from conditions effecting blood flow to the brain. From this first symptom, the differential diagnosis, a list of potential diseases doctors use to help them problem solve, is narrowed down to some sort of disease process effecting cerebrovascular blood flow. Essentially, the differential includes stroke, low blood pressure, heart attack or heart arrhythmia.
Mechanism of Tingling
Throughout nature, it is a common to observe how form often determines function, as well as dysfunction. In the case of tingling, it is the anatomical construction of the nervous system that produces the tingling sensation. Long sensory nerve fibers, projecting from all corners of the body, are designed with a segregation of sensory neuron types within the nerve. The nerves responsible for carrying the tingling sensation from your arms are being stimulated. This phenomenon is often observed in cases of myocardial infarction. The mechanism lies in the fact that the sensory nerves for the arm criss-cross with the sensory nerve fibers from the heart itself. Because of this arrangement, cross-stimulation of sensory neurons is responsible for the tingling sensation experienced in the arm. In our mind, there is a tingling stimulus coming from our arm, while in reality the origin of the stimulus lies in the muscular walls of your heart.
Impact of Exercise
The real kicker here is exercise; in all likelihood, this is what pushed your already strained heart over the edge. When you push your heart harder than it can pump, you are forcing it to use up all available oxygen. This change may lead to a period of hypoxia, or low blood oxygen, in the heart's circulation. Myocardial cells, or the hearts muscle fibers, must be highly metabolically active tissues in order to support constant contractile activity. Even short periods of oxygen deprivation to these cells can result in hypoxia and cell death, a condition known as angina pectoris.
Applications
If you ever experience arm tingling or feel lightheaded, take a rest from the exercise you are performing and give your heart a chance to breath. Talk with your doctor about the frequency and intensity that you experience these symptoms and she will use this information, combined with other tests, to make a diagnosis regarding the origin of these symptoms.
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