Which of the following is a symptom of mitral stenosis?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a symptom of mitral stenosis?

Explanation:
Mitral stenosis obstructs flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle during diastole, causing elevated left atrial pressure. That pressure backs up into the pulmonary veins and capillaries, leading to pulmonary congestion and shortness of breath. Dyspnea, especially with activity and potentially orthopnea or paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, is the most typical symptom you’d expect to see with this condition. Fatigue can occur due to reduced forward flow, palpitations can arise from atrial fibrillation, and hemoptysis can happen with advanced pulmonary hypertension, but dyspnea best reflects the underlying pathophysiology of mitral stenosis.

Mitral stenosis obstructs flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle during diastole, causing elevated left atrial pressure. That pressure backs up into the pulmonary veins and capillaries, leading to pulmonary congestion and shortness of breath. Dyspnea, especially with activity and potentially orthopnea or paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, is the most typical symptom you’d expect to see with this condition. Fatigue can occur due to reduced forward flow, palpitations can arise from atrial fibrillation, and hemoptysis can happen with advanced pulmonary hypertension, but dyspnea best reflects the underlying pathophysiology of mitral stenosis.

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