Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart.
Pulmonary hypertension can slowly get worse and can be life-threatening. Although there’s no cure for some types of pulmonary hypertension, treatment can help to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
Symptoms:
Shortness of breath or lightheadedness during activity is often the first symptom. A fast heart rate may be present. Over time, symptoms occur with lighter activity or even while at rest.
Other symptoms include:
- Ankle/leg swelling
- Bluish color of the skin
- Chest pain
- Dizziness or fainting spells
- Fatigue
- Increased abdominal size
- Weakness
People with pulmonary hypertension often have symptoms that come and go. They report good days and bad days.
Pulmonary hypertension may be caused by the following:
- Autoimmune diseases that damage the lungs, such as scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis
- Congenital disabilities of the heart
- Blood clots in the lung
- Heart failure
- Heart valve disease
- HIV infection
- Low oxygen levels in the blood
- Lung diseases, such as COPD or pulmonary fibrosis, or any other severe chronic lung condition
- Medicines (for example, diet drugs)
- Sleep apnea
Diagnosis:
Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. The exam may find:
- Abnormal heart sounds
- A feeling of a pulse over the breastbone
- Heart murmur on the right side
- Veins in the neck
- Leg swelling
- Liver swelling
- Normal breath sounds if pulmonary hypertension is idiopathic or due to congenital heart disease
- Abnormal breath sounds if pulmonary hypertension is from another lung disease
The exam may be ordinary or almost every day in the early stages of the disease. The condition may take several months to diagnose. Asthma and other diseases may cause similar symptoms and must be ruled out.
Tests that may be ordered include:
- Blood tests
- Cardiac catheterization
- Chest x-ray
- CT scan of the chest
- Echocardiogram
- ECG
- Lung function tests
- Nuclear lung scan
- Pulmonary arteriogram
- 6-minute walk test
- Sleep study
- Tests to check for autoimmune problems
Treatment:
There is no cure for pulmonary hypertension. The goal of treatment is to control symptoms and prevent more lung damage. Treating medical disorders that cause pulmonary hypertension, such as obstructive sleep apnea, lung conditions, and heart valve problems, is essential.
Pulmonary hypertension is treatable if diagnosed early and evaluated by a specialist. The treatment of pulmonary artery varies depending on the cause, and identification of the cause may need a evaluation by a trained specialist.
Many treatment options for pulmonary arterial hypertension are available
Patient needs to be closely monitored during treatment to watch for side effects and adjustment of medicines based on response to the treatment clinically and hemodyanamically
Untreated pulmonary hypertension can be life threatening .
Other treatments include:
- Blood thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots, especially for some forms of pulmonary hypertension
- Oxygen therapy
- Lung transplant, or in some cases,
Other important tips to follow:
- Avoid pregnancy.
- Avoid heavy physical activities and lifting.
- Avoid travelling to high altitudes.
- Get a yearly flu vaccine, as well as other vaccines such as the pneumonia vaccine and the COVID vaccine.
- Stop smoking.
A lung transplant or, in some cases, a heart-lung transplant can be considered for patients with severe disease.
Dr. Sheetal Chaurasia is the senior Consultant – Pulmonary Medicine at Manipal Hospital Whitefield Bangalore. With experience spanning over two decades in the medical field, she is recognized as one of the most reputed Consultant pulmonologists in Manipal Hospital Whitefield Bangalore.
