Advanced COPD is associated with _______ sided heart failure

Study for the Pulmonary Emergencies Test. Improve your skills with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Advanced COPD is associated with _______ sided heart failure

Explanation:
Advanced COPD often leads to cor pulmonale, a form of right‑sided heart failure. Chronic low oxygen levels cause the pulmonary arteries to constrict and remodel, raising the pressure the right ventricle must pump against. Over time the right ventricle dilates and weakens, resulting in right‑sided heart failure. This produces venous congestion signs such as leg edema, jugular venous distension, hepatomegaly, and sometimes ascites. Left‑sided failure isn’t the typical direct outcome of COPD, which is why the most likely associated heart failure is on the right.

Advanced COPD often leads to cor pulmonale, a form of right‑sided heart failure. Chronic low oxygen levels cause the pulmonary arteries to constrict and remodel, raising the pressure the right ventricle must pump against. Over time the right ventricle dilates and weakens, resulting in right‑sided heart failure. This produces venous congestion signs such as leg edema, jugular venous distension, hepatomegaly, and sometimes ascites. Left‑sided failure isn’t the typical direct outcome of COPD, which is why the most likely associated heart failure is on the right.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy