Pulmonary HypertensionSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries of the lungs. It makes the right side of the heart work harder than normal.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Sporadic primary pulmonary hypertension; Familial primary pulmonary hypertension; Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension; Primary pulmonary hypertension; PPH; Secondary pulmonary hypertension; Cor pulmonale - pulmonary hypertension
The right side of the heart pumps blood into the pulmonary artery and then through the lungs, where it picks up oxygen. Blood returns to the left side of the heart, where it is pumped to the rest of the body.
When the small arteries (blood vessels) of the lungs become narrowed, they cannot carry as much blood. When this happens, pressure builds up. This is called pulmonary hypertension.
The heart needs to work harder to force the blood through the vessels against this pressure. Over time, this causes the right side of the heart to become larger and malfunction. This condition is called right-sided heart failure, or cor pulmonale.
Pulmonary hypertension may be caused by:
- Autoimmune diseases that damage the lungs, such as scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis
- Birth defects of the heart
- Blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism)
- Heart failure (of the left side of the heart)
- Heart valve disease
- HIV infection
- Low oxygen levels in the blood for a long time (chronic)
- Lung disease, such as COPD or pulmonary fibrosis or any other severe chronic lung condition
- Medicines (for example, certain diet medicines)
- Obstructive sleep apnea
In rare cases, the cause of pulmonary hypertension is unknown. In this case, the condition is called idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). Idiopathic means the cause of a disease is not known. IPAH affects more women than men.
If pulmonary hypertension is caused by a known medicine or medical condition, it is called secondary pulmonary hypertension.
Shortness of breath or lightheadedness during activity is often the first symptom. Fast heart rate (palpitations) may be present. Over time, symptoms occur with lighter activity or even while at rest.
Other symptoms include:
- Ankle and leg swelling
- Bluish color of the lips or skin (cyanosis)
- Chest pain or pressure, most often in the front of the chest
- Dizziness or fainting spells
- Fatigue
- Increased abdominal size due to fluid buildup
- Weakness
People with pulmonary hypertension often have symptoms that come and go. They report good days and bad days.
There is no cure for pulmonary hypertension. The goal of treatment is to control symptoms and prevent more lung damage. It is important to treat medical disorders that cause pulmonary hypertension, such as obstructive sleep apnea, lung conditions, and heart valve problems.
Many treatment options for pulmonary arterial hypertension are available. If you are prescribed medicines, they may be taken by mouth (oral), received through the vein (intravenous, or IV), or breathed in (inhaled).
Your provider will decide which medicine is best for you. You will be closely monitored during treatment to watch for side effects and to see how well you are responding to the medicine. Do not stop taking your medicines without talking to your provider.
Other treatments may include:
- Blood thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots, especially for some forms of pulmonary hypertension
- Oxygen therapy at home
- Lung transplant, or in some cases, heart-lung transplant, if medicines do not work
Other important tips to follow:
- Avoid pregnancy.
- Avoid heavy physical activities and lifting.
- Avoid traveling to high altitudes.
- Get a yearly flu vaccine, as well as other vaccines such as the pneumococcal (pneumonia vaccine), and the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Stop smoking.
Wakemed Specialists Group LLC
Kishan Parikh is an Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist and a Cardiologist practicing medicine in Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr. Parikh is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension. He is also highly rated in 7 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Pulmonary Hypertension, Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease, Heart Failure, Hypertension, and Heart Transplant. Dr. Parikh is currently accepting new patients.
Frankel Cardiovascular Center
Vallerie Mclaughlin is a Cardiologist and an Internal Medicine provider practicing medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Mclaughlin is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension. She is also highly rated in 12 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Pulmonary Hypertension, Hypertension, Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), Angioplasty, and Cardiac Ablation. Dr. Mclaughlin is board certified in Cardiovascular Disease.
Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
Paul M. Hassoun, M.D., is professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the director of the pulmonary hypertension program at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He received his medical degree from the Faculté de Médecine Lariboisière-Saint Louis at the University of Paris, France, completed an internship and residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, both at Harvard Medical School. He was on faculty in the pulmonary division at New England Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine (Tufts-NEMC) in Boston, MA, until 2002 when he joined the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Hassoun has served or currently serves on numerous American Thoracic Society (ATS) assemblies and committees, including the Pulmonary Circulation Long Range Planning Committee, the Pulmonary Circulation Program Committee (for which he served as chair for 2008-2009), the ATS Scientific Advisory Council, Pulmonary Circulation Leadership Committee, and the American College of Chest Physicians Vascular Steering Committee. He served as the ATS Pulmonary Circulation chair (2011-2012) and on the ATS Publications Policy Committee. He was recently elected president of the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute (PVRI; 2018-2019). Dr. Hassoun has held numerous editorial activities including serving on the editorial board of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Medicine (2010 to present), CHEST (2006-2015) and the European Respiratory Review (2008-2015). He currently serves as associate editor of the European Respiratory Journal (2013-present) and has served as associate editor for the Journal of Clinical Investigation (2017-2022). Dr. Hassoun is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension. He is also highly rated in 8 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Pulmonary Hypertension, Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), Cerebral Hypoxia, Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease, and Lung Transplant. Dr. Hassoun is board certified in American Board Of Internal Medicine.
How well you do depends on what caused the condition. Medicines for IPAH may help slow the disease.
As the illness gets worse, you will need to make changes in your home to help you get around the house.
For people with severe disease, lung transplant, or in some cases, heart-lung transplant can be considered.
Contact your provider if:
- You begin to develop shortness of breath when you are active
- Shortness of breath gets worse
- You develop chest pain
- You develop other symptoms
- You feel lightheaded or dizzy
- You have persistent palpitations
Summary: The purpose of this retrospective and prospective multicenter study is to evaluate the incidence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) within 6 months from ultrasound-assisted, Catheter-directed Thrombolysis for acute intermediate- high-risk Pulmonary Embolism
Summary: This study evaluates the effect of ROC-101 in adults with either Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) or Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD-PH). Each eligible participant will receive standard of care (SOC) plus ROC-101 for a 24-week treatment period, followed by a long-term extension period of the study through the end of the program or marketing approval/autho...
Published Date: May 03, 2024
Published By: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, VA New Jersey Health Care System, Clinical Assistant Professor, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Lammi MR, Mathai SC. Pulmonary hypertension: general approach. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 83.
Maron BA. Pulmonary hypertension. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 88.