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 occurs when the left ventricle isn’t pumping effectively, causing fluid to back up into the lungs. Orthopnea—breathing better when sitting up or with the head of the bed elevated—is a classic sign of pulmonary edema, a direct manifestation of fluid overload in the chest. In a patient with STEMI, new left‑sided dysfunction can lead to this pulmonary edema, making orthopnea a key indicator of edema in this context. Anxiety may accompany dyspnea but is nonspecific. While jugular venous distention indicates elevated venous pressure and peripheral edema reflects fluid accumulation, orthopnea most specifically signals edema due to pulmonary congestion in acute STEMI.