Transient chest pain due to a temporary oxygen supply-demand mismatch in the heart is best described as which condition?

• A. Atherosclerosis
• B. Acute myocardial infarction
• C. Angina pectoris
• D. Congestive heart failure

Answer: (C)

Angina pectoris is the condition described by transient chest pain caused by a temporary mismatch between the heart’s oxygen supply and demand. It happens when narrowed coronary arteries limit blood flow during periods of activity or stress, leading to brief ischemia that causes discomfort but does not cause permanent heart muscle damage. The pain typically improves with rest or nitroglycerin.

This differs from a heart attack, where ischemia lasts long enough to injure heart tissue, often with rising cardiac enzymes and persistent symptoms. Atherosclerosis is the underlying disease process that causes artery narrowing, not the acute symptom itself. Congestive heart failure involves the heart’s pumping ability and fluid buildup, with symptoms like shortness of breath and edema rather than transient ischemic chest pain.

So, the best description for transient chest pain due to temporary oxygen supply-demand mismatch is angina pectoris.