What is the medical term for a heart attack?

The medical term for a heart attack is myocardial infarction. This term specifically refers to the condition where blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, usually by a blood clot, leading to damage or death of the heart muscle. The term "myocardial" pertains to the muscular tissue of the heart, while "infarction" indicates the death of tissue due to a lack of blood supply.

This terminology is crucial for healthcare professionals, as understanding and communicating the specifics of heart-related conditions requires precise language.

In contrast, cerebrovascular accident refers to conditions such as strokes caused by interruptions in blood supply to the brain. Arrhythmia describes irregular heartbeats that may occur in various forms but do not specifically denote a heart attack. Atherosclerosis is a condition characterized by the buildup of plaque in the arteries but does not refer to the event of a heart attack itself. Understanding these distinctions is vital for accurate diagnosis and treatment in medical practice.