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Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension results when the blood vessels carrying blood to the lungs become narrow, reducing flow capacity and starving the lungs of oxygen. This condition, which may stem from another illness or have an unknown cause, is almost always permanent. However, treatment can improve symptoms and long-term outcomes.
Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension, may include:
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling in the legs, ankles and abdomen
Diagnosis
In its early stages, pulmonary hypertension is difficult to recognize on routine exams. To find out if you have pulmonary hypertension, your doctor may do a test called an echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart. Other tests used at the Atlantic Health System Pulmonary Center to evaluate pulmonary hypertension are:
- EKG
- Pulmonary function test
- Right heart catheterization
- Six-minute walk test
Treatment
If the cause of the pulmonary hypertension is known, treating the cause is the first step. Although it is not curable, pulmonary hypertension can be treated by several different therapies and medications, which will help lessen symptoms and improve quality of life.
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