Which condition is characterized by chest pain due to ischemia?

Angina pectoris is characterized by chest pain or discomfort due to ischemia, which is a reduction in blood flow to the heart muscle. This condition typically occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood, leading to the classic symptom of chest pain, often described as a squeezing or pressure-like sensation. Angina may occur during physical activity, emotional stress, or at rest, depending on the type. It serves as a warning sign of underlying coronary artery disease and indicates the heart's need for more oxygen, which is not being met due to narrowed or blocked arteries.

Myocardial infarction, while also related to ischemia, refers to a more severe and permanent damage to the heart muscle due to prolonged ischemia, usually resulting in a heart attack. Heart failure involves the heart's inability to pump effectively, which can cause congestion and other symptoms but isn't specifically characterized by chest pain due to ischemia. Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in a pulmonary artery that can cause chest pain but it results from a different mechanism and is not characterized primarily by ischemia of the heart muscle itself.