1An acute cardiac event; commonly refers to a heart attack caused by, for example, insufficient blood flow to the heart (equivalent to 'heart attack').
祖父が心臓発作で入院したと聞いて駆けつけた。
I rushed over when I heard my grandfather had been hospitalized with a heart attack.
心臓発作の初期症状には胸の圧迫感や呼吸困難がある。
Initial symptoms of a heart attack include chest pressure and difficulty breathing.
喫煙や高血圧は心臓発作のリスクを高める。
Smoking and high blood pressure increase the risk of a heart attack.
2Used as a verb (suru-form) meaning to suffer or have a heart attack (e.g., 'to have a heart attack').
彼は突然心臓発作を起こして救急車で運ばれた。
He suddenly had a heart attack and was taken away by ambulance.
医師は高齢の患者が再び心臓発作を起こさないよう注意を促した。
The doctor warned the elderly patient to take care so as not to have another heart attack.