Pulmonary Hypertension
Learn about the pulmonary condition of Pulmonary Hypertension including its common causes, symptoms, and treatments.
What is Pulmonary Hypertension?
Pulmonary Hypertension is high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and on the right side of the heart.
Blood vessels can become narrow or blocked, which slows blood flow and causes the heart to work harder. Eventually, the heart fails because of the added stress.
Symptoms of Pulmonary Hypertension
Symptoms of Pulmonary Hypertension may include:
Shortness of breath while exercising and eventually at rest
- Fatigue
- Dizziness or fainting spells
- Chest pressure or pain
- Swelling in the ankles, legs and eventually the abdomen
- Bluish color to the lips and skin
- Fast pulse or pounding heartbeat
Possible Causes of Pulmonary Hypertension
Some possible causes of Pulmonary Hypertension may be:
- Unknown cause
- Changes in a gene passed down through families
- Use of some prescription diet drugs or illegal drugs like meth
- Heart problems present at birth
- Other conditions such as HIV infection, chronic liver disease and connective tissue disorders
- Left-sided heart valve disease such as mitral valve or aortic valve disease
- Failure of the lower left heart chamber
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Scarring of the tissue between the lung’s air sacs
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Long-term exposure to high altitudes
- Chronic blood clots in the lungs
- Other clotting disorders
- Blood disorders
- Inflammatory disorders
- Metabolic disorders
- Kidney disease
- Tumors pressing against pulmonary arteries
Risk Factors of Pulmonary Hypertension
Risk factors of Pulmonary Hypertension may include:
- People aged 30 to 60
- Family history
- Being overweight
- Blood-clotting disorders or a family history of blood clots in the lungs
- Exposure to asbestos
- Congenital heart disease
- Living at a high altitude
- Use of certain weight-loss drugs
- Use of illegal drugs
- Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), used to treat depression and anxiety
Complications from Pulmonary Hypertension
Complications from Pulmonary Hypertension may include:
- Right-sided heart enlargement and heart failure
- Blood clots
- Arrhythmia
- Bleeding in the lungs
- Pregnancy complications
How to Prevent Pulmonary Hypertension
Some ways to prevent Pulmonary Hypertension may include:
- Check your pulse
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Regular exercise
- Eat a healthy diet
- Stop smoking
- Manage stress
- Maintain healthy blood pressure
- Manage your cholesterol
Learn about the Smoking Cessation program at Oneida Health