Which description BEST characterizes stable angina?

Which description BEST characterizes stable angina?

• A. Chest pain at rest unrelated to exertion
• B. Severe chest pain lasting longer than 15 minutes
• C. Episodes of chest pain with exertion lasting 5-15 minutes
• D. Chest pain aggravated by deep breathing

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is identifying stable angina by how the chest pain is triggered, its duration, and how it’s relieved. Stable angina occurs when increased myocardial oxygen demand from exertion or emotional stress causes predictable, promptly relieved chest discomfort. The pain typically lasts about 5 to 15 minutes and goes away with rest or nitroglycerin. This pattern is reproducible and doesn’t occur at rest, which helps distinguish it from more dangerous conditions. Chest pain that happens at rest or lasts longer than about 15 minutes raises concern for unstable angina or a heart attack, so that option isn’t consistent with stable angina. Pain worsened by deep breathing points more toward pleuritic or musculoskeletal causes rather than ischemia. So the description of chest pain with exertion lasting 5–15 minutes best fits stable angina.

The main idea here is identifying stable angina by how the chest pain is triggered, its duration, and how it’s relieved. Stable angina occurs when increased myocardial oxygen demand from exertion or emotional stress causes predictable, promptly relieved chest discomfort. The pain typically lasts about 5 to 15 minutes and goes away with rest or nitroglycerin. This pattern is reproducible and doesn’t occur at rest, which helps distinguish it from more dangerous conditions.

Chest pain that happens at rest or lasts longer than about 15 minutes raises concern for unstable angina or a heart attack, so that option isn’t consistent with stable angina. Pain worsened by deep breathing points more toward pleuritic or musculoskeletal causes rather than ischemia. So the description of chest pain with exertion lasting 5–15 minutes best fits stable angina.