What are common symptoms of left-sided heart failure?

Left-sided heart failure is primarily characterized by the heart's inability to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body, which can lead to a backlog of blood in the pulmonary circulation. This condition typically results in respiratory symptoms due to increased pressure in the pulmonary veins and consequent pulmonary congestion. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, and orthopnea, as fluid accumulates in the lungs.

This choice highlights the presence of jugular vein distention (JVD) as a symptom, which can occur in right-sided heart failure but may not be as prominent in left-sided heart failure. However, when left-sided heart failure leads to right-sided failure, JVD can become evident as a secondary consequence. Pulmonary congestion is a direct result of left-sided heart failure and manifests in the clinical picture.

The other options, while they may occur in various contexts, do not specifically capture the hallmark symptoms of left-sided heart failure as accurately. Lower extremity edema is more commonly associated with right-sided heart failure, while abdominal distension is not a direct symptom of left-sided heart failure and could indicate other conditions. Peripheral vascular symptoms are not specific to left-sided heart failure and can arise from a variety of other cardiovascular issues. Thus, the focus on pulmonary congestion