Would you recognize chest pains as serious, and get to a hospital emergency room quickly, as Dick Cheney did?

It's the No. 1 killer of both men and women in America, and with Dick Cheney back in the hospital again, heart disease is once again in the spotlight.

CNN reported late Monday that the former vice president was taken to George Washington University Hospital with chest pains. Cheney has had four heart attacks since the 1970s.

Dr. Manny Alvarez, managing health editor of FoxNews.com, says that Cheney's heart health vigilance may be what saves his life. "Many people don't recognize the symptoms of heart health and that's when they get into trouble," Alvarez says. "But the good thing is that the Vice President recognizes chest pains as serious and went to get checked out."

Would you recognize the symptoms of a heart attack, or myocardial infarction?

Symptoms include:

Chest discomfort--mostly in the center of the chest, lasting more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body--pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Women's most common symptom is chest pain, but they are somewhat more likely than men to experience other symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.