Which term describes chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart, a feature of CAD?

Which term describes chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart, a feature of CAD?

• A. Myocardial infarction
• B. Hypertension
• C. Angina pectoris
• D. Aneurysm

Answer: (C)

Chest pain from reduced blood flow to the heart is called angina pectoris. It happens when the coronary arteries don’t supply enough oxygen to the heart muscle, usually due to atherosclerosis, especially during activity or stress. Angina presents as a pressure-like, squeezing, or tight sensation in the chest and may radiate to the arm, shoulder, neck, or jaw. It’s typically relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. This distinguishes it from a heart attack, which is myocardial infarction—irreversible heart muscle damage from prolonged ischemia. Hypertension is simply high blood pressure, and an aneurysm is a bulge in a vessel wall; neither describes the chest pain pattern caused by ischemia.