What is the medical term for a heart attack?

What is the medical term for a heart attack?

• A. Cerebrovascular accident
• B. Diabetic ketoacidosis
• C. Obstructed airway
• D. Myocardial infarction

Answer: (D)

A heart attack happens when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked, causing heart muscle damage. The medical term for this is myocardial infarction. “Myocardial” means related to the heart muscle, and “infarction” means tissue death due to a lack of blood supply. This term precisely describes the event of the heart muscle being injured from insufficient oxygen. The other terms point to different emergencies: a cerebrovascular accident is a stroke affecting the brain; an obstructed airway is a blockage that makes breathing difficult; diabetic ketoacidosis is a dangerous metabolic complication of diabetes.

A heart attack happens when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked, causing heart muscle damage. The medical term for this is myocardial infarction. “Myocardial” means related to the heart muscle, and “infarction” means tissue death due to a lack of blood supply. This term precisely describes the event of the heart muscle being injured from insufficient oxygen.

The other terms point to different emergencies: a cerebrovascular accident is a stroke affecting the brain; an obstructed airway is a blockage that makes breathing difficult; diabetic ketoacidosis is a dangerous metabolic complication of diabetes.