HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What condition is characterized by pain or pressure around the heart?

1. Myocardial infarction

2. Coronary artery disease

3. Angina pectoris

4. Aneurysm

The correct answer is: Angina pectoris

Angina pectoris is the condition characterized by pain or pressure around the heart, often felt in the chest, throat, jaw, or shoulders. This discomfort is a result of insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle, typically due to coronary artery disease. Angina serves as a warning sign of potential heart problems and can be triggered by physical exertion, emotional stress, or heavy meals. In contrast, myocardial infarction refers to a heart attack resulting from a complete blockage of blood flow, leading to damage to the heart muscle. While it also involves chest pain, the nature and severity of the pain are typically greater than that experienced during angina. Coronary artery disease is a broader condition that encompasses the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, which can eventually lead to angina or myocardial infarction. It does not specifically denote the episodic pain but rather the underlying cause. An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge in a blood vessel wall, which may cause pain but is not specifically linked to pressure around the heart in the way that angina is. Thus, angina pectoris is the most accurate choice as it directly relates to the experience of pain or pressure in the context of the heart's oxygen supply being compromised.