Alice visits the hospital for a medical checkup after experiencing shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.When Dr.Gavin examines her,he discovers that her lungs are filled with fluid.Dr.Gavin immediately suspects that Alice is suffering from a certain heart disease.Which of the following conditions is Dr.Gavin suspecting she has?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In chronic heart failure, the contractile ability of the heart to pump blood is decreased so that the heart pumps out less blood than it receives. Blood accumulates inside the chambers, causing enlargement (dilatation) of the heart. Consequently, there is less blood circulating in the blood vessels to supply the body organs. The kidneys-particularly sensitive to a decrease in blood flow-respond by retaining more water and electrolytes, leading to fluid retention and edema. When the left side of the heart fails, fluid accumulates in the lungs (pulmonary edema) and interferes with gas exchange, resulting in shortness of breath.

Alice Visits the Hospital for a Medical Checkup After Experiencing