During a cardiac assessment on an adult patient in the hospital for "chest pain," the nurse finds the following: jugular vein pulsations 4 cm above sternal angle when he is elevated at 45 degrees,BP 98/60,HR 130;ankle edema;difficulty in breathing when supine;and an S₃ on auscultation.Which of the following best explains the cause of these findings?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Heart failure causes decreased cardiac output when the heart fails as a pump and the circulation becomes backed up and congested.Signs and symptoms: dyspnea,orthopnea,paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea,decreased blood pressure,dependent,pitting edema;anxiety;confusion;jugular vein distention;fatigue.The S₃ may be the earliest sign of heart failure.

During a Cardiac Assessment on an Adult Patient in the Hospital