What is the medical term for a heart attack?

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Multiple Choice

What is the medical term for a heart attack?

A heart attack is called a myocardial infarction. “Myocardial” means heart muscle, and “infarction” means tissue death due to lack of blood flow. So a myocardial infarction is death of heart muscle from blocked coronary arteries. Other options don’t fit the event. Angina pectoris is chest pain from reduced blood flow that doesn’t always cause heart muscle death. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle. An aneurysm is a bulging, weakened area in a vessel or heart chamber, not the acute death of tissue from a blockage.

A heart attack is called a myocardial infarction. “Myocardial” means heart muscle, and “infarction” means tissue death due to lack of blood flow. So a myocardial infarction is death of heart muscle from blocked coronary arteries.

Other options don’t fit the event. Angina pectoris is chest pain from reduced blood flow that doesn’t always cause heart muscle death. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle. An aneurysm is a bulging, weakened area in a vessel or heart chamber, not the acute death of tissue from a blockage.

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