What is a Pulmonary Hypertension?
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is used to describe high blood pressure in the lungs from any cause. This is a different problem than high blood pressure in the whole body (systemic hypertension) and it can occur in adults and children at any age.
What are the problems to my lungs if the pressure is high?
There are many problems in view of this high blood pressure in the blood vessels:
When the blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries gets too high, the arteries in the lungs narrow (or constrict), reducing blood flow through the lungs and causing low levels of oxygen in the blood.
This can lead to strain in both heart and brain which can decrease the amount of oxygen getting to your brain which leads to many problems including death.
What are the common conditions that can lead to Pulmonary hypertension?
There are many conditions which can cause , however to simplify the list it is briefly classified to the following groups:
Genetic causes
Congenital heart disease
Connective tissue disease
Coronary artery disease
Liver disease (cirrhosis)
Blood clots to the lungs
Chronic lung diseases like emphysema
Haematological disorders
Can Pulmonary hypertension be cured?
No. There is no definite cure for the above condition however the Pulmonary hypertension improves once the cause is found and the primary condition is treated. The different types of treatment is as follows:
Inhaled medicine
Medicine given through the veins under the skin
Medicine to reduce swelling in the feet (diuretics)
Oxygen therapy
Lung transplant
When should I consider the opinion to transplant Pulmonologist?
It is always advisable to seek the help earlier to know the current status. There are few international recommendation which is as follows:
