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

He died of a heart attack at 37, leaving behind pieces on pop culture that also functioned as penetrating social critique.

From The Wall Street Journal

He also denied rumours that he had suffered a heart attack.

From BBC

The symptoms, which are indicative of a heart attack, persisted, but the seriousness of the situation did not properly register with him at the time.

From BBC

"It's not a heart attack in the traditional sense," he said.

From Science Daily

After that, she would have to rely solely on $830 a month in benefits from her ex-husband, who died of a heart attack in 2020.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cardiovascular disease
• congestive heart failure