How does angiotensin II increase the workload of the heart after a myocardial infarction (MI)?

A. Aortic stenosis: Aortic stenosis can lead to heart failure due to left ventricular outflow obstruction, but it is not the most direct cause of pulmonary edema. This condition may present with other symptoms, such as chest pain or syncope, rather than fluid accumulation in the lungs.

B. Left-sided heart failure: Left-sided heart failure is a primary cause of pulmonary edema, as it leads to increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation and fluid leakage into the alveoli. Assessing for this condition is crucial, as it directly contributes to the patient's pulmonary edema and requires immediate management.

C. Mitral valve prolapse: Mitral valve prolapse can cause mitral regurgitation and lead to heart failure, but it is less commonly associated with acute pulmonary edema compared to left-sided heart failure. While assessment is important, it is not the priority in this scenario.

D. Right-sided heart failure: Right-sided heart failure typically leads to systemic congestion and peripheral edema rather than pulmonary edema. While it can coexist with left-sided heart failure, it is not the primary concern when assessing a patient specifically for pulmonary edema.

A. Stable angina: This type of angina typically occurs with physical activity or stress and is relieved by rest or the use of nitroglycerin. The patient's report of chest pain occurring with activity, subsiding after taking nitroglycerin, and lasting for 8 minutes aligns with the characteristics of stable angina, indicating that the heart is not receiving enough oxygen during increased demand.

B. Variant angina (Prinzmetal angina): This type of angina occurs due to coronary artery spasms and can happen at rest, often without any apparent trigger. It is usually relieved by rest or medication but is less likely to be activity-related, making it an unlikely diagnosis in this case.

C. Microvascular angina: This type of angina is associated with dysfunction of the small coronary arteries rather than blockages in the larger arteries. It may present differently and is often not directly linked to physical activity or relieved by nitroglycerin.

D. Unstable angina: Unstable angina is characterized by unexpected chest pain that occurs at rest, is more intense, and lasts longer than stable angina. It does not typically resolve quickly with nitroglycerin. Since the patient reports that the pain was activity-related and resolved after taking nitroglycerin, unstable angina is unlikely in this scenario.