Field Internship Student Data Acquisition Project. (FISDAP) Airway Practice Exam

What is NOT a symptom commonly associated with congestive heart failure (CHF)?

1. Dependent edema

2. Chest pain

3. Crackles in the lungs

4. Sore throat

The correct answer is: Sore throat

In the context of congestive heart failure (CHF), symptoms typically reflect the body's response to fluid overload and the heart's inability to pump effectively. Dependent edema, crackles in the lungs, and chest pain are all established clinical signs or symptoms associated with CHF. Dependent edema occurs due to fluid retention, where gravity causes fluid to accumulate, especially in the lower extremities. Crackles, or rales, are abnormal lung sounds that occur when fluid builds up in the alveoli, a common consequence of left-sided heart failure. Chest pain can occur, particularly in the context of myocardial ischemia or as a result of increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation. In contrast, a sore throat does not align with the typical symptoms of CHF. It is often associated with infections or inflammatory conditions affecting the throat and is not a direct consequence of heart failure. Therefore, identifying sore throat as not being a symptom of CHF highlights the distinction between cardiac-related symptoms and those related to other medical issues.