Which of the following is a symptom of right-sided heart failure?

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Right-sided heart failure is characterized by the inability of the right ventricle to effectively pump blood into the pulmonary circulation, leading to a variety of clinical symptoms. One key symptom is the presence of distended neck veins, which indicates elevated venous pressure due to the backing up of blood in the systemic circulation. When the right side of the heart fails, blood can accumulate in the veins, particularly those in the neck, leading to noticeable distension.

In contrast, pulmonary edema is more commonly associated with left-sided heart failure, which affects the lungs and leads to fluid accumulation there. Cerebral anoxia typically relates to inadequate blood flow or oxygen to the brain, which is not a direct consequence of right-sided heart failure. Ischemic heart disease is a condition that affects the coronary arteries and is not a symptom of heart failure but rather a cause that can lead to various forms of heart dysfunction. Therefore, distended neck veins stand out as a classic sign of right-sided heart failure, demonstrating the distinct manifestations of heart dysfunction depending on which side of the heart is affected.

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