Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Certification Practice Exam

What condition can result from left-sided heart failure?

1. Pulmonary edema

2. Peripheral edema

3. Cerebral ischemia

4. Dehydration

The correct answer is: Pulmonary edema

Left-sided heart failure primarily affects the heart's ability to effectively pump blood into the systemic circulation. As a result, blood can back up into the lungs, leading to increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation. This increased pressure causes fluid to seep into the lung tissue, resulting in pulmonary edema. Pulmonary edema is characterized by symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and a wet cough, which occur as the lungs become congested with fluid. Understanding this mechanism is crucial for emergency medical technicians, as recognizing the signs of pulmonary edema allows for timely intervention and management of patients experiencing left-sided heart failure. In contrast, conditions like peripheral edema, cerebral ischemia, and dehydration typically relate to other underlying health issues or compensatory mechanisms that occur in different contexts and are not direct consequences of left-sided heart failure.