Cough with pink, frothy sputum is primarily associated with which type of heart failure?

Coughing up pink, frothy sputum is primarily associated with left-sided heart failure. This symptom occurs due to pulmonary congestion resulting from inadequate left ventricular pumping. When the left ventricle fails to effectively circulate blood, pressure within the pulmonary circulation increases. This elevated pressure leads to fluid leaking into the alveoli, and as patients attempt to clear this fluid from their lungs, they may produce pink, frothy sputum. This is a characteristic sign of pulmonary edema, commonly seen in left-sided heart failure. Recognizing this symptom is crucial for healthcare providers, as it indicates worsening heart failure and the need for prompt medical intervention.

While right-sided heart failure and the classifications of heart failure (HFrEF and HFpEF) can have associated symptoms, they do not typically present with pink, frothy sputum; thus, these options do not accurately represent the primary association with this specific symptom.