Final answer:
Left-sided heart failure leads to pulmonary congestion and respiratory symptoms like dyspnea and cough due to the accumulation of fluid in the lungs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Left-sided heart failure can lead to pulmonary congestion and the development of respiratory symptoms like dyspnea and cough. When the left ventricle of the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood into the systemic circulation, blood gets "backed up" in the pulmonary circulation. This leads to increased hydrostatic pressure within the pulmonary capillaries, causing fluid to be pushed out of them and into lung tissues, resulting in pulmonary congestion and edema. The accumulation of fluid in the lungs can lead to respiratory symptoms such as difficulty breathing (dyspnea) and cough.