Cardiovascular Health Clinic Logo
Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary Hypertension: Causes and Treatment

Pulmonary hypertension is a potentially life-threatening condition affecting 50 and 70 million people worldwide. However, early diagnosing and treating the disorder can significantly improve your long-term medical outlook and enhance your quality of life.

At CardioVascular Health Clinic, we provide comprehensive heart care services, helping a diverse population of patients manage and overcome serious circulatory system disorders.

What is Pulmonary Hypertension?

Pulmonary hypertension is an extremely serious disorder that can negatively affect every organ in the body if left unaddressed.

The pulmonary arteries transfer blood from the heart to the lungs, where it becomes oxygenated before returning to the heart and distributed throughout all the organ systems in the body. When blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries becomes too high, the arterial walls narrow, limiting the amount of blood transferred to the lungs. This reduction of blood to the lungs results in less oxygen being distributed to the organ systems.

Additionally, the heart must work harder to pump blood through narrowed arteries, causing the heart muscle to weaken over time, potentially leading to heart failure.

What Causes Pulmonary Hypertension?

Various medical, lifestyle, and environmental factors may cause pulmonary hypertension, or it can have no clear cause. Some cases are believed to be inherited. Generally, it is categorized into five groups:


Group 1 (Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension)

Group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension can have numerous causes, including drug and alcohol misuse, congenital heart defects, connective tissue disorders, and HIV infection. Cases in which doctors can not identify a cause are also classified as group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension.


Group 2 (Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Left-Sided Heart Disease)

Anomalies within the left side of the heart – the side that pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body – can cause blockages within the right side of the heart. This blockage raises blood pressure within the pulmonary arteries.


Group 3 (Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Lung Disease)

Some lung disorders can trigger pulmonary hypertension, including sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis (incurable scarring of lung tissue). People living in high altitudes for extended periods might also be at higher risk.


Group 4 (Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Blood Clotting)

Chronic blood clotting in the lungs and throughout the body is a significant risk factor for pulmonary hypertension. Clotting can inhibit blood flow through the lungs, adding stress to the right side of the heart.


Group 5 (Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Miscellaneous Health Disorders)

Certain inflammatory, metabolic, blood, and kidney disorders can cause group 5 pulmonary hypertension.



Pulmonary Hypertension Symptoms

Early stages of this disease might not generate physical symptoms. As it progresses, the following signs often develop:

  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Dizziness or loss of consciousness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Skin discoloration
  • Swelling in the ankles, legs, and abdomen

Pulmonary Hypertension Treatment

Pulmonary hypertension has no cure, but the disease can be managed effectively. Treatment can mitigate symptoms and halt the progress of the disease. However, any underlying medical cause must first be addressed and treated.

Your physician might prescribe medications to facilitate blood flow to the lungs and dilate the blood vessels. A balloon pulmonary angioplasty— a minimally invasive procedure—might be recommended to widen the pulmonary artery.

Your treatment protocols will depend upon the type and cause of your pulmonary hypertension.

If you have concerns about your heart health and would like to schedule a screening, please don’t hesitate to contact our helpful representatives for an appointment today.

Patient Resources

We’re committed to timely, efficient, and affordable care.
Here is a collection of useful resources our new and existing patients need in one convenient location.
Please let us know if you need additional information or have any questions.

Testimonials

I’m about one month out and things are so much better. At my two week evaluation my symptom score had gone from a 27 to a 7, and I’m sure it’s even better now. That speaks volumes. Now that I’m post recovery, there is no incontinence, I go to the bathroom much less and there are no ED side effects like there are with other procedures. In regard to my quality of life, well, I don’t maintain my life based on my proximity to a bathroom anymore.

-
Blaine P., M.D.
Professional staff working in a beautiful facility with great doctors who sincerely care about their patients. Without Dr. Schmidt's skill, I would have needed heart bypass surgery instead of a stent. Follow-up has been thorough. I can't recommend them highly enough.
-
LeAnn H.

Dr. Jim Melton and all the staff are fantastic. He is an excellent surgeon and his team is GREAT!!!! I just had surgery at the surgery center, I have only great things to say about my experience. Without him I really don't think I would be here to write this. If you’re looking for a good cardiovascular team, they are a 5 star for sure.

-
Susie H.

Dr. Parsons and staff are amazing. He truly listened to me from the consult. Staff showed genuine care for my progress post procedure. I had my follow up appointment today so satisfied with results. Blake made me comfortable from the start. He is an activist for uterine fibroids treatment beyond the standard.

-
Tamara M.

Professional and caring staff. Dr. Smith is very knowledgeable and shows genuine concern for your personal health. I enjoyed the background music in the procedure room, it really adds to the relaxing atmosphere.

-
David L.

Dr. John Schrader is the most personable doctor we know. He stays on top of my dads health care and is genuinely concerned about his health. We never leave his office with questions. He answers them all. Even questions we don’t think of. Always professional but never cold or bad bedside manner. In our opinion he is THE BEST around.
Thank you Dr Schrader.

-
Kathy J.

I came to Dr. Warren by a self referral for mals when it took me 8yrs 50+ doctors and thousands of dollars spent on no answers. My first visit I was scared I was just going to be gaslighted just like the past however I was pleasantly shocked when Dr. Warren immediately believed me. She took the time to review many disk I had brought from past tests. She never once dismissed me and listened to ever word I had to say. She scheduled one last test to confirm the diagnosis then I was scheduled for surgery right away. Surgery was a success and I can’t thank her and her staff enough. Dr. Warren truly saved my life.

-
Angie W.

Dr. Garner literally saved my life 18 months ago and I've followed him to his new practice with Cardiovascular Health. He explains things so clearly, listens and is just a very nice person. His staff is great, too! I highly recommend!

-
D Watts

Some of the nicest staff that I have ever dealt with!! They have been so incredibly awesome to my mom!! Would definitely recommend them to anyone!! Thank you so much for being so great with her!!

-
Christy G.

The staff, the nurses, and Dr. Parsons were all amazing. Everything was simple and went well – very Bravo Zulu (military phrase meaning "well done"). In addition to the great staff at CardioVascular Health Clinic, the facilities were clean and well maintained. I have no complaints about anything. The whole experience was A1. I would recommend Dr. Parsons to anyone. He made a huge impact on my life.

-
John W.

Contact Us Today

MM slash DD slash YYYY
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Address
protected by reCAPTCHA
Privacy - Terms

Copyright © 2024 CardioVascular Health Clinic. All Rights Reserved. Website by Healthcare Success.
crossmenu