An Introduction to Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension: what it is and how to treat it.
So you’ve heard of pulmonary hypertension but you’re not sure exactly what it is or how it applies to you. That’s what I’m here for.My name is Heart Healthy Henry and I’m going to go into detail on what pulmonary hypertension is, what the risks are and how to treat it.
A Pulmonary Hypertension Overview
Pulmonary hypertension is a disorder of the blood vessels in the lung. With pulmonary hypertension, the pressure in blood vessel that leads to the lungs from the heart (the pulmonary artery) rises above normal levels. This is a rare occurrence (about two in a million), but it can become life threatening if not caught in time or treated properly.
Pulmonary Hypertension Symptoms
The symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are similar to the symptoms experienced with high blood pressure. They include shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, chest pain and fainting.
Is There a Cure?
There is no cure for pulmonary hypertension and until recently, the survival rate was nothing to glow about. However, nowadays there are new treatments being used and some patients are living 20 years or longer with the condition.
Can Pulmonary Hypertension Be Prevented?
Pulmonary hypertension can’t be prevented. There is no known cause of the condition just as there is no known cure. While we’d like to think that everything can be taken into control and prevented and cured, that’s just not the case with this condition.
On the other hand, a change in lifestyle can never hurt and eating properly and getting enough exercise may help to prevent the condition, but medical experts have no proof that this is the case.
Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension
Treatment of pulmonary hypertension can be complex and is oftentimes controversial. Treatment will mainly depend on whether the pulmonary hypertension is primary or secondary.
If it’s primary, that means that there’s no known underlying cause and treatment will often include a continuous intravenous infusion of prostacyclin.
If the pulmonary hypertension is secondary, the primary cause of the condition will probably be treated which will normally correct the pulmonary hypertension.
Lung transplants are sometimes an option for people who are suffering from pulmonary hypertension that cannot be treated otherwise.