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

Poor cardiorespiratory fitness has been closely linked to a greater risk of heart attack, stroke, and early death.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026

Brazilian UFC flyweight Allan Nascimento has died after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep, the organization announced.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

"My wife she was nearly having a heart attack on the ground," he said.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Savannah, who lost her father to a heart attack when she was 16, posted a video that night and acknowledged reports of a ransom note.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

“I wish you were there last night. You could have helped me fake a heart attack or something to get away from Nana Dee. She and my grandpa came by yesterday—unannounced.”

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

Related Words

• cardiovascular disease
• congestive heart failure