In patients with chronic respiratory disease, what does pedal edema indicate?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pedal edema in patients with chronic respiratory disease can indicate right ventricular failure, which occurs when the heart's right ventricle is unable to pump blood efficiently to the lungs, causing fluids to back up in the body, including the legs and feet. Other symptoms of right ventricular failure may include shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain. Impaired pulmonary diffusion and systemic hypertension are not directly related to the presence of pedal edema in these patients. Left ventricular hypertrophy results from the heart working harder to pump blood, but it is more commonly associated with other conditions, such as high blood pressure or coronary artery disease, and is not typically caused by chronic respiratory disease alone.

In Patients with Chronic Respiratory Disease, What Does Pedal Edema