A client who has a history of angina and hypertension now complains of fatigue, shortness of breath, and cough. Based on this assessment finding, what does the nurse suspect that the client might be developing?
1. Peripheral edema
2. Left-sided heart failure
3. Hypokalemia
4. Right-sided heart failure
2
Rationale 1: Peripheral edema is caused by right-sided heart failure.
Rationale 2: The left ventricle has limits to its ability to compensate. Blood "backs up" into the lungs, resulting in the classic symptoms of cough and shortness of breath, particularly when the patient is lying down with left-sided heart failure.
Rationale 3: Hypokalemia does not cause fatigue, shortness of breath, and cough.
Rationale 4: Right-sided heart failure causes peripheral edema.
Global Rationale: The left ventricle has limits to its ability to compensate. Blood "backs up" into the lungs, resulting in the classic symptoms of cough and shortness of breath, particularly when the patient is lying down with left-sided heart failure. Peripheral edema is caused by right-sided heart failure. Hypokalemia does not cause fatigue, shortness of breath, and cough. Right-sided heart failure causes peripheral edema.
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