Certified in Public Health (CPH) Practice Exam

What condition is characterized by pain and tightness around the heart?

1. Cardiomyopathy

2. Angina

3. Pneumonia

4. Bronchitis

The correct answer is: Angina

Angina is a condition characterized by pain and tightness around the heart, typically caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. This reduced blood flow can occur due to the narrowing of coronary arteries, often a result of atherosclerosis. The discomfort associated with angina may feel like pressure, squeezing, or fullness, and it can radiate to other parts of the body such as the arms, neck, and back. Understanding angina is essential in the context of cardiovascular health, as it serves as a warning signal that the heart may not be receiving enough oxygen-rich blood. It can occur during physical activity, emotional stress, or even at rest, depending on the severity of the underlying heart condition. Other conditions listed, such as cardiomyopathy, pneumonia, and bronchitis, involve different mechanisms and symptoms. Cardiomyopathy relates to diseases of the heart muscle that affect its ability to pump blood effectively but does not specifically produce the chest pain symptoms of angina. Pneumonia is a lung infection that may cause respiratory symptoms and chest pain but is not characterized by tightness around the heart. Bronchitis involves inflammation of the bronchial tubes, often leading to cough and mucus production, without the specific heart-related pain associated with angina