Question

The diagnosis is left-sided heart failure. The nurse knows that the most common causes of left-sided failure include which of the following? Select all that apply.

a) Hypertension
b) Acute myocardial infarction
c) Tricuspid valve dysfunction
d) Impaired renal blood flow
e) Chronic pulmonary disease

Answer 1

Common causes of left-sided heart failure include hypertension and acute myocardial infarction, as they directly impact the heart's ability to effectively pump blood. Tricuspid valve dysfunction, impaired renal blood flow, and chronic pulmonary disease are typically associated with other types of heart problems.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most common causes of left-sided heart failure include hypertension and acute myocardial infarction. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, puts excess strain on the heart, leading to weakening of the heart muscle, which can culminate in heart failure. An acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle. This damage can reduce the heart's ability to pump effectively, leading to heart failure.

• Hypertension (a) directly increases the workload of the left ventricle, over time leading to its dysfunction.
• Acute myocardial infarction (b) damages the heart muscle, impairing its pumping action.

Tricuspid valve dysfunction (c), impaired renal blood flow (d), and chronic pulmonary disease (e) are more often associated with right-sided heart failure or other cardiac conditions. The tricuspid valve affects the right side of the heart, renal blood flow is related to the heart's performance but not a direct cause of left-heart failure, and chronic pulmonary disease often leads to right-heart failure due to increased pressure in the lung circulation.