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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Certain inflammatory, metabolic, blood, and kidney disorders can cause group 5 pulmonary hypertension.
Early stages of this disease might not generate physical symptoms. As it progresses, the following signs often develop:
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.
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