Final answer:
Congestive heart failure affects lung function by causing fluid buildup in the lungs, resulting in impaired gas exchange and breathing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Heart failure affects lung function because it can lead to pulmonary edema. When the left side of the heart is unable to pump out its normal volume of blood, the blood in the pulmonary circulation gets backed up. This increased pressure causes fluid to be pushed out of the pulmonary capillaries and into the lung tissues, resulting in pulmonary edema. This excess fluid in the lungs impairs their ability to function properly, affecting gas exchange and breathing.
For example, in pulmonary edema, the excess fluid can fill the alveoli and interfere with the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide across the thin walls of the alveoli. This can lead to shortness of breath, coughing, and decreased oxygen levels in the blood.
Overall, the impaired lung function in congestive heart failure is a result of the fluid buildup in the lungs due to the inability of the heart to pump efficiently.