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

Left-sided heart failure primarily affects the lungs and is associated with pulmonary congestion and edema. This condition arises when the left ventricle is unable to effectively pump blood to the body, leading to a backup of blood in the pulmonary circulation. The increased pressure in the pulmonary vessels causes fluid to leak into the lung tissues, resulting in pulmonary edema. Symptoms of pulmonary edema can include difficulty breathing, decreased oxygen saturation, and coughing up frothy sputum, all indicative of the faltering pulmonary function due to left-sided heart failure.

Other options like jaundice, peripheral edema, and abdominal tenderness are more closely related to right-sided heart failure or other systemic issues rather than being direct symptoms of left-sided heart failure. In right-sided heart failure, for instance, fluid can accumulate in peripheral tissues, leading to swelling in the legs and abdomen. However, for left-sided heart failure specifically, pulmonary edema stands out as the primary symptom directly related to the heart's inability to manage blood flow effectively.