Which statement describes angina pectoris?

• A. A coronary artery is partially blocked so blood flow to the heart is reduced but not completely stopped.
• B. It only occurs at night.
• C. It is caused by infection.
• D. It is unrelated to coronary arteries.

Answer: (A)

Angina pectoris happens when the heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen because the coronary arteries are narrowed. Because the blockage is partial, blood flow is reduced but not stopped, so the heart can still receive some oxygen at rest but struggles during activity or stress. That mismatch between oxygen supply and demand produces chest pain or discomfort that typically eases with rest or with nitroglycerin. The statements that say it only happens at night, that it’s caused by infection, or that it’s unrelated to the coronary arteries don’t fit this mechanism, since angina is fundamentally about reversible ischemia from reduced coronary blood flow. In practice, recognizing this pattern helps distinguish angina from other issues, and management centers on rest and nitrate therapy, with urgent care if symptoms don’t improve.