Why does atherosclerotic plaque formation in a coronary artery lead to angina pectoris (chest pain) during exertion?

💡 Explanation

Angina occurs because the plaque narrows the artery, thereby reducing blood flow and oxygen delivery to the heart muscle. The oxygen demand rises during exertion, and the stenosed vessel cannot provide adequate supply, rather than extracting more oxygen at rest or enhanced vasodilation. Therefore, a supply-demand mismatch causes pain.

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