Which symptom is typical in patients with right sided heart failure?

In right-sided heart failure, the primary issue is the inability of the right ventricle to pump blood effectively into the pulmonary circulation. This leads to a backup of blood in the systemic venous circulation, which causes fluid to leak into surrounding tissues, resulting in edema. This edema is often most noticeable in the extremities, such as the legs and feet, and can also contribute to abdominal swelling (ascites).

Severe fatigue can occur in various types of heart failure due to decreased cardiac output and reduced perfusion to tissues, but it is not exclusive to right-sided heart failure. Bradycardia refers to an abnormally slow heart rate and can occur due to different factors affecting heart function, making it less characteristic of right-sided heart failure. Sudden weight loss is uncommon in heart failure contexts, where patients typically experience weight gain due to fluid retention. Thus, edema in extremities is the hallmark symptom associated with right-sided heart failure and highlights the fluid overload and congestion characteristic of this condition.