heart attack

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. damage to an area of heart muscle that is deprived of oxygen, usually due to blockage of a diseased coronary artery, typically accompanied by chest pain radiating down one or both arms, the severity of the attack varying with the extent and location of the damage; myocardial infarction.

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heart attack British  

noun

1. any sudden severe instance of abnormal heart functioning, esp coronary thrombosis

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heart attack Scientific  

1. Necrosis of a region of the heart muscle caused by an interruption in the supply of blood to the heart, usually as a result of occlusion of a coronary artery resulting from coronary artery disease. Symptoms typically include sudden, crushing chest pain, nausea, and sweating. Characteristic changes in the electrocardiogram are used to diagnose heart attacks.

2. Also called myocardial infarction

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heart attack Cultural  

1. An episode of heart failure or the stopping of normal heart function; a coronary thrombosis. Symptoms of a heart attack include pain and pressure in the chest, which often spread to the shoulder, arm, and neck. Today, physicians tend to define heart attack in terms of muscle damage to the heart caused by oxygen deprivation.

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Etymology

Origin of heart attack

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Heart attack is a common disease with risks of serious complications.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2024

Heart attack is the nation’s No. 1 killer, Warner says, responsible for one in every five deaths.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 12, 2023

Heart attack, stroke, cancer, vascular disease, depression, obesity and malnutrition were among diagnoses most often cited by the government in its false-claims lawsuits.

From Washington Post • Jun. 5, 2022

Heart attack and stroke risk begins to increment with anything over 112/72, which is easy and automatic without medications on vegan-ish nutrition coupled with adequate exercise.

From New York Times • Nov. 15, 2017

Heart attack is a window on the effects of class on health.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Related Words

• cardiovascular disease
• congestive heart failure