heart attack

American  

noun

Pathology.

• heart attacks
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• heart attacks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of heart attack

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

heart attack

A parent’s early heart attack or a sibling’s cancer can change which screenings you need and when.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

She was told by a doctor she was having a major heart attack.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Alireza Sepahi was arrested in the wake of Iran's January protests, was spared public execution in July after suffering a heart attack and married his fiancee on the eve of his death.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

Novo Nordisk’s ziltivekimab, an experimental drug designed to suppress inflammation, sharply lowered inflammatory biomarkers but didn’t reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

Natalie turned to see what it was and almost had a heart attack.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

• cardiovascular disease
• congestive heart failure