A patient comes to the emergency department complaining of coughing and difficulty breathing. The patient's diagnosis is heart failure. How does heart failure cause shortness of breath?
A) The left side of the heart is weak and pumps blood too quickly.
B) The left side of the heart is weak and pulmonary fluid accumulates.
C) The right side of the heart is enlarged and cannot effectively pump blood.
D) The right side of left heart is weak and blood enters the lungs.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In heart failure, the left side of the heart is often weak, leading to a backup of blood in the pulmonary circulation, causing fluid accumulation in the lungs, which results in shortness of breath.

A Patient Comes to the Emergency Department Complaining of Coughing