One of the most frightening physical pains can be unexpected pain in your chest. Most people, when in the middle of experiencing chest pains, are in no shape to determine whether the pain stems from heartburn or something far more serious. Fortunately, there are a wide range of care centers that specialize in heart heath.

If you've ever felt the tightening in your chest, you're not alone. Heart disease is the number-one killer for both men and women. More people visit emergency rooms and heart centers for chest pain than anything else. Heart attack symptoms can vary from person to person, though. The attack is not always sudden or intense like a lot of people believe. Many heart attacks can start slowly with only mild pain and the severity can creep in over time.

You may think you have pulled a muscle, or that you have the flu, as symptoms occasionally present themselves as such. Every heart attack is different. If you've suffered a previous heart attack, symptoms of a recurring one may not be the same.

Surviving a heart attack is by choosing to recognize the symptoms quickly and getting help immediately. Moments can count. By understanding the symptoms you will be ensured of getting the right treatment you need. Symptoms range wildly between person to person, and women especially should be aware of nausea, vomiting cold sweats, of being light headed, and arm or back pain.

As you have read, you cannot always tell if what you are experiencing is a heart attack. Symptoms are not always just crushing chest pain. If you have any thought that this may be a heart attack or if you or any one in your family has heart disease then call 911 or have someone to drive you immediately to the hospital or a heart treatment center

Getting help immediately can save your life, even if the pain is not a heart attack. Quick reaction time will make all the difference to your chances of survival, along with your health and what you can do after treatment.