JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Jacksonville woman who is recovering from a heart attack said she hopes her story will save lives.

Most wouldn't think Alexia Lewis could be a heart attack victim because she's only in her 30s and is also in good health. However, when she realized something wasn't right she got help -- a move that saved her life.

"I went into the theater and sat down to watch the movie, and as I was sitting there my chest got very heavy and my arms got very weak. It wasn't numb or tingly, just weak. I couldn't even put it on the arm rest," Lewis said.

As a former group fitness instructor with CPR certification, Lewis said she knew the feeling was no ordinary chest pain but symptoms of a heart attack.

"I knew what was going on but I didn’t want to believe it. I was in denial," Lewis said.

Three days after the symptoms, and with the urging of a good friend, Lewis made a trip to an area emergency room.

Although she has lived a healthy lifestyle and there's no history of heart problems in her family, the 38-year-old had indeed suffered a heart attack.

Ken Brannon, director of cardiac rehabilitation at Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center, said Louis's case is not as uncommon as most would think.

"We get a handful of folks in their 30s and 40s in our program at any given time," Brannon said.

He said many times heart attacks can be attributed to lifestyle or genetics, but he said there are a growing number of incidents like Lewis's case.

That's why both Brannon and Lewis agree on this saying: "If in doubt, check it out."

"Don't ignore the symptoms," Brannon said.

"If it happened to me, it could happen to anybody," Lewis said.

She said she was fortunate she caught the situation before it was too late, and wants to tell everyone that calling a doctor about what seems like a simple chest pain may make a live-saving difference.