heart attack

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.

heart attack

noun

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

heart attack

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

heart attack

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of heart attack¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

He died on July 22 of a heart attack.

From Los Angeles Times

He was charged in August following reports of a theft among thousands of tributes left near the Black Sabbath bench and mural following Osbourne's death on 22 July aged 76 from a reported heart attack.

From BBC

An elevated cardiovascular risk means that, based on a person's health, lifestyle and medical data, they are more likely than others in the study to develop heart-related problems such as heart attack or stroke.

From BBC

"He felt he was going to have a heart attack," said Yaneisy.

From BBC

Tributes have poured in for the "remarkable" leader of a multi-academy trust who died suddenly of a heart attack aged 61.

From BBC

Related Words

• cardiovascular disease www.thesaurus.com
• congestive heart failure