Final answer:
Jugular vein distention is a characteristic of right-sided heart failure, as it results from increased pressure in the vena cavae due to the heart's inability to pump blood effectively into the lungs.
Step-by-step explanation:
One characteristic of right-sided heart failure is jugular vein distention. This occurs because when the right side of the heart fails, it leads to a rise in the pressure in the vena cavae, which in turn causes the jugular veins in the neck to bulge or distend. This is a common clinical sign that can be observed in cases where the right heart is not effectively moving deoxygenated blood into the lungs for oxygenation. Other symptoms like dyspnea, cough, and pulmonary crackles are generally more associated with left-sided heart failure, which leads to backed-up fluid in the lungs—known as pulmonary edema—due to increased pressure in the pulmonary circulatory system.