Many people know that high blood pressure is cause for concern. But most people are not aware that high blood pressure can develop in the lungs. Unfortunately, this condition, known as pulmonary hypertension, can have serious consequences.
We answer some common questions about the causes, symptoms and treatments of pulmonary hypertension.
A: Put simply, it’s a disease of increased resistance and high blood pressure in the vessels of the lungs. When that resistance and pressure are higher than normal, the right side of the heart has to beat harder to push blood through the lungs and to the rest of the body. This can lead to thickening of the right heart muscle, and eventually to right-sided heart failure.
Experts have identified 5 different categories of pulmonary hypertension:
Q: Who is at risk?
A: Every category of pulmonary hypertension has different underlying causes and risk factors. In some cases, we can’t identify the cause. Yet we do know that certain factors increase the risk of developing the disease:
Q: What are the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension?
A: Early symptoms can sometimes be vague. As right-sided heart failure begins, the symptoms become more severe.
Early symptoms:
Later symptoms:
Q: How is pulmonary hypertension treated?
A: Unfortunately, we can’t cure pulmonary hypertension, but in certain cases we can improve the symptoms. In addition to medications, it’s important for patients to control their fluid levels with diet, diuretic medications and decreased salt intake. It’s also important that people with pulmonary hypertension make exercise a part of their daily routine. We often refer patients for a supervised exercise program.
There are many medications used to manage PAH that dilate blood vessels in the lungs. In fact, more than a dozen drugs have been approved to treat PAH in the last 10 years. Researchers are now testing new drugs that might go a step further and actually reverse changes in the blood vessels of the lungs — and thus prevent right-sided heart dysfunction.
Several studies are also underway to see whether the drugs approved for people with PAH can be used to treat people with other types of pulmonary hypertension.
All in all, for people with pulmonary hypertension, there’s a lot of hope on the horizon.
Q: Is Inova experienced in treating pulmonary hypertension?
A: Absolutely! In fact, the Inova Fairfax Pulmonary Hypertension Program is the only site in the Washington, D.C. area accredited as a Comprehensive Pulmonary Hypertension Care Center by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.
In addition, we participate in several clinical trials to test new pulmonary hypertension medications.
Learn more about Inova research and clinical trials for lung disease, and read about the expert care we offer by the Inova Pulmonary Hypertension Program.
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