A 40-year-old is brought to the emergency department with a 4-month history of increasing shortness of breath. Upon asking further questions, the patient reports that his breathlessness worsens on lying down flat, and he has to use four pillows at night to sleep so that he doesn’t gasp for breathing while lying on the bed. The patient further reports that his legs have been swollen in the last two weeks and that the swelling is worst, especially at the end of the day. The patient denied both symptoms when asked about palpitations or chest pain.
Medical history : No significant medical history Social history The patient has been a regular smoker since he was 16 and smoked around 20 cigarettes daily. In addition, the patient is a heavy drinker and drinks roughly 60 units of alcohol (if not more) each week. Based on the symptoms, what is your diagnosis for this patient and the most…
