Which cardiovascular condition is characterized by chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart?

Angina pectoris is a condition that manifests as chest pain or discomfort caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle, often triggered by physical exertion or stress. This reduced blood flow usually results from a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, leading to ischemia, which is a temporary oxygen deprivation for the heart tissue. The pain is often described as pressure, squeezing, or a feeling of fullness in the chest and can also radiate to the shoulders, neck, or arms.

Unlike myocardial infarction, where there is actual heart muscle damage due to prolonged lack of blood supply, angina is typically a reversible condition and signals that the heart is not receiving adequate oxygen during times of increased demand. Heart failure involves the heart's inability to pump effectively but does not specifically present with chest pain due to reduced blood flow. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm that can lead to ineffective blood flow and potential complications, but it does not directly relate to the chest pain caused by ischemia.