Final answer:
A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, resulting in chest pain or discomfort and potentially life-threatening complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
A heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, resulting in damage to the heart muscle and potentially death of myocardial cells. Symptoms of a heart attack can include angina, which is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood.
This angina pain is often felt as a pressing or squeezing sensation in the chest, and may also be accompanied by burning sensations, shortness of breath, and pain that can radiate to the arms, neck, jaws, stomach, and back.