Which sign would indicate edema in a patient admitted with STEMI?

Which sign would indicate edema in a patient admitted with STEMI?

• A. Orthopnea and anxiety
• B. Jugular venous distention
• C. Peripheral edema
• D. Shortness of breath on exertion

Answer: (A)

Edema from heart failure after STEMI often presents with orthopnea—shortness of breath that worsens when lying flat because fluid shifts toward the chest and lungs, causing pulmonary congestion. The accompanying anxiety reflects the distress from breathing difficulty. This combination directly signals fluid overload in the lungs, i.e., edema. While jugular venous distention indicates elevated venous pressures, and peripheral edema shows fluid buildup, they’re less specific to the acute pulmonary edema that orthopnea points to. Shortness of breath on exertion is a broad symptom that can occur for many reasons and doesn’t specifically indicate edema.

Edema from heart failure after STEMI often presents with orthopnea—shortness of breath that worsens when lying flat because fluid shifts toward the chest and lungs, causing pulmonary congestion. The accompanying anxiety reflects the distress from breathing difficulty. This combination directly signals fluid overload in the lungs, i.e., edema.

While jugular venous distention indicates elevated venous pressures, and peripheral edema shows fluid buildup, they’re less specific to the acute pulmonary edema that orthopnea points to. Shortness of breath on exertion is a broad symptom that can occur for many reasons and doesn’t specifically indicate edema.