heart attack

noun

: an acute episode of coronary heart disease marked by the death or damage of heart muscle due to insufficient blood supply to the heart usually as a result of a coronary artery becoming blocked by a blood clot formed in response to a ruptured or torn fatty arterial deposit

Note: Symptoms of heart attack include discomfort or pain in the chest, shoulder, arm, back, neck, or jaw, shortness of breath, dizziness or lightheadedness, heartburn, nausea, excessive sweating, and extreme fatigue.

called also myocardial infarction

Examples of heart attack in a Sentence

Her chest pains turned out to be caused by a minor heart attack. He died of a massive heart attack.
Recent Examples on the Web Teen Allegedly Beat Mom with Bat and Slit Her Throat Before Sister Discovered Dead Body As a result of the vicious attack, the victim suffered two heart attacks and is now in a coma. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 Milla Goldenberg, a Realtor with House Hunter L.A., endured a long ADU construction process that was delayed when her first contractor had a heart attack. Keith Wagstaff, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 In rare cases, hormonal birth control pills can lead to blood clots, heart attack and stroke. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024 For elderly individuals that are sedentary, the sudden exertion places stress on the heart that can potentially result in a heart attack. Omer Awan, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The cause of death was a heart attack, his publicist, Jeff Abraham, confirmed to Rolling Stone. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2024 Lewis died peacefully Tuesday night at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 76 after suffering a heart attack, his publicist told The Hollywood Reporter. Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024 Jesus Gillette died July 27 in his wife's arms of a massive heart attack. Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024 Her father, who died of a heart attack in 2013, was a commercial roofing contractor whose projects included building pavilions outside the rides at Universal Studios. Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heart attack.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heart attack was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near heart attack

Cite this Entry

“Heart attack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heart%20attack. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

heart attack

noun
: a sudden severe occurrence of damage to heart muscle caused by too little blood going to the heart usually as a result of the blocking of a coronary artery (as by a bit of fatty matter)

Medical Definition

heart attack

noun
: an acute episode of coronary heart disease marked by the death or damage of heart muscle due to insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle usually as a result of a coronary artery becoming blocked by a blood clot formed in response to a ruptured or torn fatty arterial deposit

Note: Symptoms of heart attack include discomfort or pain in the chest, shoulder, arm, back, neck, or jaw, shortness of breath, dizziness or light-headedness, heartburn, nausea, excessive sweating, and extreme fatigue.

When a patient is in the throes of a heart attack, the physician's goal is restoring adequate blood flow to the starving heart muscle as swiftly as possible.Harvard Medical School Health Letter
It has long been known that aspirin helps prevent blood clots … and many studies have shown that the drug can reduce the incidence of heart attacks and strokes.Peter Aldhous, Science

called also acute myocardial infarction, myocardial infarction

compare angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, heart failure sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on heart attack

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