American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

Signs of left-sided heart failure primarily affect which part of the body?

1. Abdomen

2. Lungs

3. Limbs

4. Heart

The correct answer is: Lungs

The signs of left-sided heart failure are primarily associated with the lungs because when the left ventricle fails to effectively pump blood out to the body, it causes a backlog of blood in the pulmonary circulation. This increased pressure in the pulmonary veins leads to fluid leakage from the blood vessels into the lung tissues, resulting in pulmonary congestion and symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and cough. In the context of left-sided heart failure, while there may be systemic effects and symptoms that can involve different areas of the body, the impact on the lungs is the most pronounced and immediate due to the physiological changes that occur as a result of the heart’s impaired function. Therefore, recognizing the respiratory symptoms as central to left-sided heart failure is essential for diagnosis and management.