What can relieve angina pectoris?

• A. Rest
• B. Strenuous exercise
• C. Alcohol use
• D. High-fat meal

Answer: (A)

Angina pectoris happens when the heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen to meet its needs, especially during times of increased workload. Rest lowers the heart’s demand for oxygen by reducing heart rate and blood pressure, which helps balance oxygen supply and demand and can relieve the chest pain. Strenuous exercise raises oxygen demand and can worsen angina; alcohol and a high-fat meal can also increase cardiac workload or provoke changes in the arteries that may trigger symptoms. So resting is the best option among the choices to relieve angina pectoris. In practice, nitroglycerin is often used if available, but the key relief mechanism described here is reducing the heart’s workload through rest.