Which finding is typical for aortic stenosis?

Which finding is typical for aortic stenosis?

• A. Loud systolic murmur
• B. Multiple dental caries
• C. Heartburn when lying down
• D. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Answer: (A)

Aortic stenosis causes turbulent blood flow across a narrowed aortic valve during the heart’s systole, which produces a harsh, crescendo‑decrescendo systolic murmur. This murmur is the most characteristic finding and is typically loud, best heard at the right upper sternal border, and often radiates to the carotids. It reflects the hemodynamic consequence of an obstructed outflow tract as the ventricle ejects blood through a narrowed valve. The other options don’t reflect this key auscultatory sign: dental caries are unrelated to valve disease, heartburn when lying down points to reflux, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea can occur with various cardiac or pulmonary issues but is not the defining exam finding for aortic stenosis.

Aortic stenosis causes turbulent blood flow across a narrowed aortic valve during the heart’s systole, which produces a harsh, crescendo‑decrescendo systolic murmur. This murmur is the most characteristic finding and is typically loud, best heard at the right upper sternal border, and often radiates to the carotids. It reflects the hemodynamic consequence of an obstructed outflow tract as the ventricle ejects blood through a narrowed valve.

The other options don’t reflect this key auscultatory sign: dental caries are unrelated to valve disease, heartburn when lying down points to reflux, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea can occur with various cardiac or pulmonary issues but is not the defining exam finding for aortic stenosis.