What is the expected sign of right-sided heart failure?

• A. Hypothermia
• B. Peripheral edema
• C. Dyspnea
• D. Cough with sputum

Answer: (B)

Right-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the systemic venous circulation, leading to congestion and fluid accumulation in tissues outside the lungs. The hallmark sign is peripheral edema, typically in the legs and ankles, due to higher hydrostatic pressure driving fluid into interstitial spaces. Other common findings include jugular venous distension, hepatomegaly with possible ascites, and weight gain from fluid retention. By contrast, dyspnea and cough with sputum point more to left-sided failure with pulmonary congestion, and hypothermia is not a typical heart failure sign. So the expected sign tied to right-sided failure is peripheral edema.