Left-sided heart failure often leads to which condition?

Left-sided heart failure commonly progresses to right-sided heart failure due to the interdependence of the heart's two sides. When the left ventricle fails, it does not effectively pump blood out to the body, leading to increased pressures in the pulmonary circulation. This elevated pressure can eventually cause the right ventricle to work harder to pump blood through the lungs, leading to right-sided heart failure.

In this context, it is important to understand that the heart functions as a unified system. Failure on one side can create a series of problems that impact the other side. Left-sided heart failure often results in symptoms such as pulmonary congestion and reduced cardiac output, which contribute to the deterioration of right-sided function over time. This pathway underscores the interconnected nature of heart function and the progression of heart failure from one side to the other.