Left-sided heart failure commonly presents with which finding?

• A. Peripheral edema in the legs
• B. Jaundice
• C. Pulmonary edema
• D. Headache

Answer: (C)

Left-sided heart failure raises pressure in the pulmonary circulation, causing fluid to leak into the lungs—pulmonary edema. This impairs oxygen exchange and leads to shortness of breath, especially when lying down (orthopnea) or with exertion, and you may hear crackles on lung exam. Peripheral leg edema and other venous signs are more characteristic of right-sided or biventricular failure, not the primary feature of left-sided failure. Jaundice would point to severe hepatic congestion from right-sided involvement, and headaches aren’t a typical manifestation of congestive heart failure.