Diagnosis of Heart Failure Cannot Be Made by Symptoms Alone

question 1

Multiple Choice

Diagnosis of heart failure cannot be made by symptoms alone because many disorders share the same symptoms. The most specific and sensitive diagnostic test for heart failure is:

• A) Chest x-rays that show cephalization and measure heart size
• B) Two-dimensional echocardiograms that identify structural anomalies and cardiac dysfunction
• C) Complete blood count, blood urea nitrogen, and serum electrolytes that facilitate staging for end-organ damage
• D) Measurement of brain natriuretic peptide to distinguish between systolic and diastolic dysfunction

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Definitions:

Cognitive Model

A theory in psychology that emphasizes the importance of internal thoughts and perceptions in determining behavior.

Abnormal Behavior

Patterns of emotion, thought, and action deemed pathological for one or more reasons, including discomfort, dysfunction, distress, or deviation from the norm.

Conscious Mental Processes

Thoughts, perceptions, and feelings of which an individual is aware at any given moment.

Biological Model

A perspective in psychology and medicine that attributes psychological disorders and behaviors to biological factors, such as genetic inheritance, brain chemistry, and anatomy.