Pulmonary Hypertension

What is pulmonary hypertension?

Pulmonary hypertension is a condition that describes high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, which are blood vessels carrying oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs. It’s often a complication of lung or heart disease, but other factors can contribute to pulmonary hypertension. It’s dangerous when left untreated, as it disrupts blood flow through your lungs and heart by narrowing arteries and causing your heart to work harder to pump blood.

What are the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension?

Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension include:

• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Blue skin or lips
• Chest pressure or pain
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Racing heartbeat
• Upper right-side abdominal pain
• Swelling in your stomach, legs, or ankles
• Difficulty exercising

In the early stages of pulmonary hypertension, you might not have any symptoms. Over time, however, you may develop mild symptoms that worsen. 

What increases the risk of pulmonary hypertension?

Pulmonary hypertension risk factors include:

• Congenital heart disease
• Other heart problems
• Genetic mutations
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Some diet pills
• Glycogen storage disease
• Liver disease
• Portal hypertension, a liver disease complication
• Lupus
• Scleroderma
• Recreational drugs
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Other lung diseases
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Pulmonary embolism
• Kidney disease
• Thyroid disease
• Sickle cell disease
• Tumors

However, the exact cause of pulmonary hypertension isn’t always clear.

How is pulmonary hypertension diagnosed?

Diagnosing pulmonary hypertension at Southwest Pulmonary Associates requires a discussion about your medical history, lifestyle, medications, and symptoms. 

Your provider completes a physical exam and orders diagnostic testing, such as right heart catheterization, Doppler echocardiogram, blood testing, CT scanning, chest X-rays, sleep tests, and a pulmonary ventilation/perfusion (VQ) scan to screen for blood clots in the lungs. They might also complete a walk test to determine how much exercise you can handle.

How is pulmonary hypertension treated?

Your personalized pulmonary hypertension treatment plan may consist of one or more of the following:

• Diet and other lifestyle changes
• Diuretics
• Calcium channel blockers
• Oxygen therapy
• Anticoagulants
• Pulmonary vasodilators
• Balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) to widen an artery
• Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) to remove blood clots
• Heart valve repair surgery
• Lung transplant

Treatments are still evolving. Your Southwest Pulmonary Associates specialist personalizes a plan that’s best suited for you. 

Schedule an evaluation at Southwest Pulmonary Associates by phone or online today to get screened or treated for pulmonary hypertension.