Experiencing chest pain can be a very scary experience for anyone. Chest pain is often associated with heart-related problems; however, there are other causes of pain in the chest that may have nothing to do with the heart. Chest pain can often originate from other parts of the body due to the complex way the nerves are distributed in the body. For instance, acid reflux disease and other esophagus disorders can cause chest pain that may sometimes imitate the pain of a heart attack.Symptoms of a heart attack may vary greatly from one individual to another. Some people may experience chest pain as the only symptom while others experience other symptoms along with the pain. For instance, some people experience shortness of breath that may accompany chest pain. Others may feel a slight discomfort that goes away and returns at a later time or may vary in intensity. In some cases, there may be an intense crushing pain felt in the chest, arms, neck, jaw or back that may indicate immediate medical attention is critical.Other symptoms related to chest pain that is not heart-related are typically less severe. For example, pain that alleviates when a person changes their body position may be related to heartburn or acid reflux disease. Tenderness in the chest area or pain experienced when coughing or breathing deeply may be due to an upper respiratory infection or other lung-related problem. Some of the symptoms that may accompany chest pain include:Coughing (with or without phlegm)WheezingDizzinessNausea and vomitingDifficulty swallowingSore throatIntense sweatingMedical attention should be sought out anytime chest pain is experienced. Although chest pain does not necessarily indicate a life-threatening condition, a thorough medical evaluation is always recommended particularly if there are additional symptoms. Low levels of oxygen and high levels of carbon dioxide may only be found with the proper medical testing equipment so it is necessary to seek professional help as soon as possible.