Pulmonary
Hypertension
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What is pulmonary hypertension?
How does pulmonary hypertension affect
the lungs and your health? High blood pressure, also called
hypertension, affects millions of people every year. It is a
condition in which blood travels through the body via the
arteries in a pressure that is too high and affects the
health of the person. There is a certain type of
hypertension that only affects the arteries in the lungs and
this is called pulmonary hypertension. This is a very
serious progressive illness that unfortunately, leads to
death for many people.
Pulmonary hypertension symptoms
What are some common signs and
symptoms of pulmonary hypertension? Well, usually the signs
are very subtle in the beginning and many people do not
realize they have a problem until months or years after you
have gotten pulmonary hypertension. Some symptoms include
shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness or fainting spells,
chest pressure and pain, racing heart or palpitations,
swelling in the ankles or legs and sometimes in the
abdomen.
These symptoms will worsen as the
disease progresses with time. At first fatigue may only be
felt with physical exertion but eventually you may find
ordinary activities such as getting out of bed or walking
around the house cause fatigue. Dizziness and fainting
spells (syncope) may increase and you may even sustain
injuries due to falling during syncope. Swelling can get
worse and spread to different parts of the body.
Pulmonary hypertension causes
What causes pulmonary hypertension?
This condition occurs when the tiny arteries in your lungs
get too narrow or become blocked by something. Then, the
blood is not able to properly flow throughout the lungs and
the lungs become deprived. Pressure will build up behind
these narrow or blocked passageways and when this pressure
builds, your heart’s lower chambers will have to work extra
hard to pump blood throughout the lungs. When this happens,
the heart muscle can weaken or in some extreme cases, fail
completely.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for
pulmonary hypertension but there are many treatment options
available that can lessen the symptoms and help you live a
healthier life. The sooner you seek treatment for your
condition, the better able to doctors will be to help you.
Regular checkups and treatment for a qualified physician
will help you notice pulmonary hypertension in its early
stages, even before significant symptoms appear.
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