Pulmonary Hypertension

What is pulmonary hypertension?

Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, which is the artery that carries blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. When blood vessels in the lungs narrow or scar, blood flow through the pulmonary artery is restricted. The right side of the heart is put under severe strain to pump blood through the lungs. The heart becomes enlarged, and has to work harder to overcome the resistance. PH is a potentially life-threatening disease.

People get PH for many reasons. Patients may inherit it genetically or contract it through other illnesses like scleroderma, sickle cell anemia, lupus, chronic liver or heart disease, hepatitis, emphysema, HIV infection and even the use of diet drugs like Fen-Phen.

What are the symptoms?

Over 100,000 people have been diagnosed with PH, but thousands may not know they have it or have not yet been diagnosed because the symptoms mimic other heart or lung conditions. PH is not easily detected in a routine physical and may progress to a late stage before it’s accurately diagnosed.

Normal everyday activities may be limited because of:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath with minimal exertion
• Low energy or fatigue
• Dizziness and fainting
• Swollen ankles, legs or abdomen

How is it diagnosed?

In diagnosing PH, your healthcare provider may use:

• Echocardiograms and electrocardiograms
• Right and left heart catheterization
• Cardiac MRI
• Lung imaging
• Pulmonary function tests
• Diagnostic sleep evaluations
• Laboratory blood work

How is it treated?

General treatment options may include anticoagulants to prevent blood clots in the lungs, calcium channel blockers to relieve pulmonary artery constriction, diuretics to reduce fluid accumulation in the body, inhaled oxygen or medications to open narrowed blood vessels.

Specific treatment options include specialized medications to open up the pulmonary arteries.