Archive puzzle
Doctordle #11
Breathlessness, ankle swelling, and extra pillows
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Sourced case summary
Open the full case notes after playing. The text is also rendered in the page HTML so search engines can understand the archived puzzle.
Case summary
This archived Doctordle case was published on 2026-04-11. It presents "Breathlessness, ankle swelling, and extra pillows" as a Medium Cardiology puzzle. The final answer is Heart Failure.
Answer
Heart Failure
Source
Topic pages verified on 2026-07-11
Information summarized from MedlinePlus.gov. MedlinePlus does not endorse Doctordle.
Six clues
Clue 1
A 72-year-old becomes short of breath while walking short distances.
Clue 2
Ankles are swollen at the end of the day.
Clue 3
He sleeps propped up on extra pillows because lying flat feels uncomfortable.
Clue 4
Weight has increased over a week despite no change in diet.
Clue 5
The pattern suggests fluid buildup related to reduced heart pumping function.
Clue 6
The answer is often described as the heart not meeting the body needs effectively.
Plain-language explanation
Heart failure happens when the heart cannot pump enough blood for the body needs. Educational clues include shortness of breath, swelling, difficulty lying flat, fatigue, and fluid retention.
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