Which term describes chest pain due to insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle?

• A. Myocardial infarction
• B. Angina
• C. Heart failure
• D. Stroke

Answer: (B)

Chest pain caused by not enough blood flow to the heart muscle is called angina. It happens when the coronary arteries don’t supply sufficient oxygen-rich blood to meet the heart’s needs, often during activity or stress when demand is higher. Angina tends to feel like pressure, squeezing, or tightness in the chest and usually improves with rest and/or nitroglycerin. This distinguishes it from a heart attack (myocardial infarction), where prolonged ischemia causes heart muscle damage and the pain is typically more severe, lasting longer, and may be accompanied by other signs like shortness of breath, sweating, or nausea. Heart failure involves the heart’s pumping ability and produces symptoms such as dyspnea and fluid overload, not primarily chest pain from ischemia. Stroke is a brain event and presents with neurological signs rather than chest pain as the primary symptom.