Final answer:
Angina pectoris is chest pain due to inadequate blood flow and oxygen to the heart, related to atherosclerosis. Symptoms may extend beyond chest pain to include breathlessness and nausea. Treatment aims at symptom management and addressing the underlying plaque buildup in coronary arteries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Angina pectoris is described as chest pain or pressure resulting from the heart muscle cells not receiving adequate blood flow, subsequently becoming starved of oxygen, a condition known as ischemia. Symptoms of angina include discomfort that may be felt in areas other than the chest such as the back, neck, shoulders, or jaw. Accompanying symptoms can include shortness of breath, sweating, or nausea. Treatments focus on symptom relief and slowing the progression of atherosclerosis, the build-up of plaque within the coronary arteries which can lead to coronary heart disease (CHD). It's essential to differentiate between angina and symptoms of a myocardial infarction (heart attack), as both conditions stem from coronary artery disease but have different levels of severity and urgency in treatment.