Chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle doesn't get enough blood is known as?

• A. Myocardial infarction
• B. Aneurysm
• C. Arrhythmia
• D. Angina

Answer: (D)

Chest pain or discomfort that happens when the heart isn’t getting enough blood is angina. It signals myocardial ischemia, usually from narrowed coronary arteries due to atherosclerosis. The sensation is often described as pressure or squeezing in the chest and may radiate to the jaw, neck, shoulder, or arm. It’s typically triggered by exertion or stress and often improves with rest or nitroglycerin, as seen in stable angina. This is different from a heart attack, where prolonged ischemia causes heart muscle death (myocardial infarction). Aneurysm refers to a ballooning of a vessel or heart chamber and presents differently, while an arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm that may cause palpitations or dizziness rather than classic ischemic chest pain.