What is angina?

What is angina?

• A. Chest pain due to restricted blood supply to the heart muscles
• B. Chest pain caused by chest wall injury
• C. Chest tightness due to anxiety
• D. Pain only during sleep

Answer: (A)

Angina is chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. When the coronary arteries are narrowed, the heart may not receive enough oxygen, especially during physical activity or stress when its demand increases. This lack of oxygen causes myocardial ischemia, producing the characteristic chest pressure or tightness that can also radiate to the arm, neck, jaw, or back. The sensation is typically relieved by rest or with nitroglycerin. It’s not simply chest wall injury or anxiety-driven chest tightness, and it isn’t accurately described as pain that only occurs during sleep.

Angina is chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. When the coronary arteries are narrowed, the heart may not receive enough oxygen, especially during physical activity or stress when its demand increases. This lack of oxygen causes myocardial ischemia, producing the characteristic chest pressure or tightness that can also radiate to the arm, neck, jaw, or back. The sensation is typically relieved by rest or with nitroglycerin. It’s not simply chest wall injury or anxiety-driven chest tightness, and it isn’t accurately described as pain that only occurs during sleep.