Which statement best describes stable angina?

• A. Predictable chest pain triggered by stress or exertion, relieved by rest and nitroglycerin
• B. Pain that occurs only at rest and is unpredictable
• C. Pain that lasts hours and is not relieved by nitroglycerin
• D. Pain radiating to the leg only

Answer: (A)

Stable angina is chest pain caused by predictable myocardial ischemia from fixed coronary artery disease. The key feature is that the pain occurs with exertion or emotional stress—triggers that raise the heart’s oxygen demand—and is relieved by rest and with nitroglycerin, which helps by dilating vessels and reducing demand. The episodes are typically short and reproducible over time. This differs from unstable angina, where pain can occur at rest or with changing intensity, and from myocardial infarction, where pain lasts longer and may not respond to nitroglycerin. Pain radiating only to the leg is not a typical presentation of angina.