1. It Takes Your Breath Away
Pulmonary hypertension makes it very hard to breathe. This condition, known as PH or PAH, is a rare and potential life threatening disorder of the blood vessels in the lung that causes the pressure in the pulmonary artery to rise above the normal level. The blood vessels constrict and over time, their walls thicken and may scar. They are unable to carry the amount of blood needed by the body. This makes the heart work harder as it tries to pump the blood through the constricted blood vessels. Since the blood flow to the heart is restricted, less oxygen rich blood is able to circulate through the body.
2. Pulmonary Hypertension Causes
There are two types of pulmonary hypertension, primary and secondary. Primary pulmonary hypertension, known as PPH or PPAH, occurs for no known reason. This type of PH, referred to as familial pulmonary hypertension; meaning the medical community considers the disease is inherited. Secondary pulmonary hypertension, known as SHP or SPAH, develops due to an underlying cause. The known causes of SHP are emphysema, chronic bronchitis, heart birth defects, congestive heart failure and pulmonary thromboembolism. Other known causes are scleroderma, HIV infection, chronic low oxygen levels caused by sleep apnea, and the diet drugs Fen/Phen and Redux.
3. Elusive Symptoms Cause Late Diagnose
The signs and symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are similar to those found in many other heart and lung conditions. Common symptoms are shortness of breath with any type of exertion, chest pain, extreme fatigue, dizziness, fainting, swollen ankles and a feeling of overall weakness. At times, there may be a bluish tint to the lips and skin.
4. Diagnosis PH
Often misdiagnosed until it has progressed to the later stages, pulmonary hypertension is a difficult disease to diagnose. A routine medical examination will not reveal a diagnosis of PH. Since the symptoms mirror many other conditions, tests must rules these out first. Patients undergo a series of tests, which generally include a chest x-ray, lung scan, lung function tests and an echocardiogram. To make a definite diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, the patient must undergo a cardiac catheterization.
5. Treatment, But No Cure
This condition is incurable. There are pulmonary hypertension treatments that alleviate the symptoms and help to make the quality of life for those suffering with PH better. In the early stages, treatment with drugs that lower blood pressure is often effective. However, the problem with this treatment is the blood pressure of the whole body becomes lower, often to dangerous levels. Having high blood pressure in the vessels of the lungs does not mean that there is systemic high blood pressure. Other treatments for pulmonary hypertension include the medications Prostacyclin and Treprostinil, administered through an intravenous infusion pump, and medications in pill form including calcium channel blockers, Bosentan and Sidenafil. Most PH patients also need oxygen, anticoagulants and diuretics.
