Why is a myocardial infarction called "heart attack?"?

Question

I'm doing a presentation on it, and I can't seem to find out the reasons why it's called like that. Sure, I know its mechanism, symptoms, etc., but why is the infarction compared to an attack, besides feeling like one?
Any answers with sources are welcome.

People, please read!!! It is so frustrating to read something that I know since 8 websites ago. I don't want to know what it is; just opinions on WHY it's compared to an attack.
Oh, and don't copy and paste multiple paragraphs of the meaning. I read dictionaries too.

Answer 1

it's not an actual attack, if you did your homework
so, based on that, it's just a layman term because no one outisde the medical community would recognize myocardial infarction faster than heart attack

meaning: if you say myocardial infarction, you'll get funny looks. if you say heart attack, everyone will have that enlightened "Ohhh..." reaction

Answer 2

Abnormal Vitals are the clinical manifestations of myocardial infarction if it is diagnosed... complications doesn't occur due to abnormal vitals but persistence of MI... If MI is treated somehow, the abnormal vitals will become normal for that age.... Is it so easy to treat MI?? No dear!!!! we can prevent complications by taking precautions.... Certain precautions coming in my mind right now are: 1. Never eat oily, spicy, junk foods.. 2. Avoid or stop eating saturated fatty acids i.e ghee, coconut oil, butter, cream etc... 3. Go for walking daily in d morning to fetch fresh air for your body.. 4. Never lift heavy weights. 5. Avoid running for long.. 6. Eat foods rich in fibre... 7. Have proper rest whenever possible.... Sleep atleast 8 - 10 hrs a day..

Answer 3

Because a myocardial infarction is a heart attack. A blood clot obstructs a coronary artery cutting off the circulation of blood to the heart and that is called a myocardial infarction or a heart attack. It doesn't just feel like a heart attack. It is one.

Answer 4

All medical of the medical field use myocardial infarction or MI.

An MI is destruction of myocardial tissue. This is the middle layer of the heart.

epicardium; outer layer, myocardium; middle layer, endocardium; inner most layer of heart. These are cell layers.

The myocardial tissue is deprived of blood flow, that could be caused by several things; build up of plaque, coronary artery spasm, a complete arterial occlusion by clot.

ischemia is death of cell tissue. When the heart tissue dies, that area of the heart has lost its ability to contract.

The word infarct means an organ or tissue goes through necrosis, or cell death, where the blood flow ceases to this area.

I LOOKED FOR ANY HISTORY OF WHY THE WORD HEART ATTACK IS USED, COULDN'T FIND ANY. ONLY FOUND HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE. HOPE SOMEONE ELSE CAN HELP.

Answer 5

heart attack is easier words to say=only the Drs use the other words

Answer 6

it is a colloquialism, a term that has become common in use over time. Strokes are now often called "brain attacks" From what I can find, an "attack" of any kind on the body was a term coined in medical dealings with asthmatics, children were said to have suffered an asthma attack.
http://www.bartleby.com/61/78/A0507800.html
this site will give you some history on the origins of the word, attack, as well as definitions that support the use of it as a verb.

Answer 7

Well you said it yourself and I will quote:
"...compared to an attack, besides feeling like one?"
It fells like an attack. But let's review the word attack! The term attack has this meaning by the dictionary:
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Defintion of the word attack:
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attack

at·tack [ə ták]
verb (past at·tacked, past participle at·tacked, present participle at·tack·ing, 3rd person present singular at·tacks)
1. vti harm: to try to harm somebody by using violence or try to defeat an enemy or capture an enemy position
2. vt criticize somebody or something: to subject somebody or something to strong or vehement criticism
The press has repeatedly attacked his plan.
3. vti infect somebody or damage something: to cause an infection, illness, or damage in somebody or something
The disease can attack at any age.

4. vt make a vigorous start on something: to begin something such as work with enthusiasm or determination and deal vigorously with it
5. vti sports games try to win: to attempt to defeat, or score against, an opponent or an opposing team in a competitive game or team sport
The chess game began sluggishly, with both sides slow to attack.



noun (plural at·tacks)
1. action of attacking: the process or an instance of attacking
2. bout of illness: an occurrence of something such as a medical disorder that is temporarily debilitating
an attack of asthma

3. attacking members of team: the offensive players on a team, especially the forwards on a soccer team (takes a singular verb)
4. music energetic way of playing: the decisive or energetic way in which a musician begins to play a piece or passage


[Early 17th century. Via French attaquer from Italian attacare battaglia “to join battle.” Ultimately from a prehistoric Germanic word meaning “to join,” which is also the ancestor of English attach.]

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end of deffinition
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Now, just formally, about the word heart:


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Definition of the word heart:
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heart

heart [haart]
(plural hearts)
noun
1. physiology blood-pumping organ: a hollow muscular organ that pumps blood around the body, in humans situated in the center of the chest with its apex directed to the left
2. anatomy position of chest above heart: the area on the front of the human body that corresponds roughly to the position of the heart
3. basis of emotional life: the human heart, considered as the source and center of emotional life, where the deepest and sincerest feelings are located and an individual is most vulnerable to pain
4. character: somebody’s essential character
He’s an abrupt-sounding cuss, but he’s got a very good heart.

5. compassion: the ability to feel humane and altruistic feelings
If she had any heart she would forgive him.

6. affection: affection, love, or warm admiration
The chorus’s singing won the hearts of the audience.

7. spirit: the capacity for courage and determination
The team played with a lot of heart.
They put their whole hearts into making a go of the business.

8. disposition: a mood, mental state, or frame of mind
9. essential part of something: the distinctive, significant, and characteristic center of something
the heart of rural America

10. plants part of vegetable around core: the often tasty or succulent compact central part of a vegetable, for example, a lettuce or cabbage, where the leaves curl in tightly
artichoke hearts

11. food animal heart used as food: the heart of an animal that is cleaned and trimmed, then roasted, stewed, or braised as food
12. symbolic depiction of heart: a simplified and conventionalized picture of a heart as a rounded, roughly triangular shape, often used to signify love
13. card games playing card: any one of a suit of cards marked with a symbolic depiction of one or more hearts. See also hearts n.1
14. beloved person: somebody who is dearly loved
Come to me, dear heart.



[Old English heorte . Related to German Herz.]

at heart in essence or reality, and despite contrary appearances
break somebody’s heart to cause somebody intense unhappiness and suffering
do somebody’s heart good to make somebody feel happy or satisfied
eat your heart out to brood about something that makes you feel unhappy (informal) to be consumed with envy
have somebody’s welfare or interests at heart to have somebody’s well-being or interests in mind
heart and soul completely, or with the greatest devotion
in your heart of hearts in your deepest inner feelings
learn or know something by heart to memorize or have memorized something
lose heart to become discouraged
not have the heart to do something to be unable to bring yourself to do something that is liable to hurt somebody else
set your heart on somethinghave your heart set on something to have something as your ambition or greatest wish
take heart to become encouraged and more confident
take something to heart to take something seriously to be upset by something
wear your heart on your sleeve to reveal your feelings openly
with all your heart completely or very willingly

The Indo-European ancestor of heart is also the ultimate source of English cardiac, concord, cordial, courage, quarry, and record.

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end of definition
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Now check this out:

attack means:
3. vti infect somebody or damage something: to cause an infection, illness, or damage in somebody or something
'The disease can attack at any age. '

"..To cause an infection, illness or damage/to attack!''


CONCLUSION: It's called heart attack because it damages the HEART, causing "..infection, illness, or damage.."/it attackes the heart!!

Goddamit kids!