Final answer:
Left-sided heart failure is characterized by shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping, pulmonary edema, and potential ankle edema due to the inability of the left ventricle to pump blood effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The symptoms and signs (S/S) of left-sided heart failure (HF) are primarily related to the inability of the left ventricle to pump sufficient blood into the systemic circulation and the resultant "back up" of fluids in the pulmonary system. Patients with left-sided HF often experience shortness of breath (dyspnea) and may have difficulty sleeping, a condition known as paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. There's also the risk of pulmonary edema, in which the lungs fill with fluid, leading to a sense of suffocation and additional symptoms such as breathlessness on exertion, giddiness, and a pallor of the skin. In severe cases, patients might exhibit edema of the ankles due to fluid retention.
Another result of the elevated pressure in the pulmonary capillaries due to left-sided heart failure is that excess fluid leaks into the lungs, causing pulmonary edema. This is a serious condition that needs immediate medical attention, and it is often evidenced by a crackling sound when breathing that can be detected during a physical examination. Furthermore, left-sided heart failure can lead to a rise in pressure entering the left side of the heart, with decreased blood pressure in the aorta, thus affecting overall circulatory dynamics.