Which sign is strongly indicative of right-sided heart failure?

Which sign is strongly indicative of right-sided heart failure?

• A. S3 heart sound.
• B. Pulmonary crackles.
• C. Peripheral edema.
• D. Jugular venous distention.

Answer: (C)

Right-sided heart failure causes systemic venous congestion, so pressure backs up into the peripheral circulation and fluid leaks into tissues. This makes peripheral edema a classic, readily observable sign of right-sided involvement, especially in the legs and ankles. Jugular venous distention also signals elevated right atrial pressure, but edema directly reflects the consequence of that congestion in the tissues. S3 and pulmonary crackles are more associated with left-sided failure or overall volume overload, not isolated right-sided failure. For these reasons, peripheral edema is the strongest single indicator among the options.

Right-sided heart failure causes systemic venous congestion, so pressure backs up into the peripheral circulation and fluid leaks into tissues. This makes peripheral edema a classic, readily observable sign of right-sided involvement, especially in the legs and ankles. Jugular venous distention also signals elevated right atrial pressure, but edema directly reflects the consequence of that congestion in the tissues. S3 and pulmonary crackles are more associated with left-sided failure or overall volume overload, not isolated right-sided failure. For these reasons, peripheral edema is the strongest single indicator among the options.