Definition

Noun: 1. A sudden and severe medical emergency involving the heart: A heart attack is a condition where the blood supply to a part of the heart muscle is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot. This blockage prevents that part of the heart from getting oxygen, which can damage or destroy the heart tissue. 2. An acute instance of coronary thrombosis or myocardial infarction: This is the formal medical term for the event, referring to the blockage of a coronary artery (coronary thrombosis) leading to damage of the heart muscle (myocardial infarction).

Usage and Examples

• As a subject of a sentence:
  • A heart attack is a leading cause of death worldwide.
  • The heart attack was caused by a blocked artery.
• Following a verb (often 'have', 'suffer', 'survive'):
  • He had a heart attack while jogging.
  • She survived a major heart attack last year.
• Described with adjectives:
  • He was hospitalized after a mild heart attack.
  • The doctor warned him about the risk of a fatal heart attack.

Advanced Usage

• "to be a heart attack waiting to happen": This is an idiomatic expression used to describe a person whose lifestyle, health condition, or habits put them at an extremely high and obvious risk of having a heart attack.
  • With his diet of fast food and lack of exercise, he's a heart attack waiting to happen.

Variants and Related Words

• Myocardial infarction (MI) (n): The formal medical term for a heart attack.
• Cardiac arrest (n): A different, though related, condition where the heart suddenly stops beating effectively. A heart attack can lead to cardiac arrest.
• Coronary (n, informal): A common informal shortening for a heart attack (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• Myocardial infarction (MI): (Medical term)
• Coronary thrombosis: (Specifically refers to the clot causing the attack)
• Cardiac event: (A broader term that can include heart attack)

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Heart attack symptoms: The signs that indicate a heart attack, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and nausea.
• Heart attack victim/survivor: A person who has experienced a heart attack.
• Risk of heart attack: The likelihood that someone will have a heart attack.
• To trigger a heart attack: To cause a heart attack to occur.
  • The extreme stress triggered a heart attack.

Noun

1. a sudden severe instance of abnormal heart function