Pulmonary hypertension isn’t something you hear every day, but for those who live with it, the effect on breathing, energy, and heart health is significant. Unlike regular high blood pressure (hypertension), pulmonary hypertension affects the arteries in your lungs, the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen throughout your body.
When your pulmonary arteries become damaged or narrowed, the heart pumps harder to push blood throughout the body. Over time, this extra strain on the heart can lead to serious symptoms and complications that affect quality of life.
At Respacare in Bridgewater, New Jersey, our expert pulmonologists, Dr. Nehal Mehta and Dr. Prashant Patel, share what you need to know about pulmonary hypertension so you can recognize the warning signs and seek care when you need it.
Pulmonary hypertension affects about 1% of people worldwide and is more common in older adults and folks with underlying heart and lung conditions.
The condition occurs when the pressure in your pulmonary arteries, the vessels that carry blood from your heart to your lungs, becomes higher than normal. While the underlying cause is still under investigation, it often develops in connection with other health conditions like heart failure, heart defects, or lung disease.
It’s theorized these conditions may damage the pulmonary arteries or change how they work, increasing pressure.
As the pressure rises, the artery walls thicken and narrow. This forces the right side of the heart to work harder, which can then lead to an abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia) or heart failure. It may also cause liver failure, bleeding in the lungs, or blood clots.
It’s possible to have pulmonary hypertension and not know it, especially in the early stages. Symptoms are often mild at first and easy to dismiss.
Common symptoms include:
As the condition progresses, symptoms tend to worsen. For example, you may only have shortness of breath during exercise, but then discover that mild exertion like climbing the stairs or short walks triggers symptoms.
Diagnosing pulmonary hypertension may require ruling out other conditions with similar symptoms first. We start by reviewing symptoms and medical history and performing a physical exam. During the exam, we may:
To confirm a diagnosis, we use specialized tests to measure pressure in the arteries, such as a cardiac catheterization and an echocardiogram. We may also order pulmonary function tests, blood work, and imaging scans.
While there’s no cure for pulmonary hypertension, treatment can significantly improve quality of life and long-term outcomes. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, improving oxygen flow, and addressing underlying causes.
Lifestyle changes are a first-line treatment and include eating a heart-healthy diet and getting regular physical activity. Our pulmonary rehab provides lifestyle plans that help build endurance and strength.
You may also benefit from medications that relax and widen the arteries, reduce fluid overload, and oxygen therapy to improve blood oxygen levels. Depending on the cause of your pulmonary hypertension, we may recommend procedures to manage the condition, such as a balloon pulmonary angioplasty.
If you have pulmonary hypertension or you’re experiencing symptoms that concern you, our team is here to help. We can create a personalized plan so you can breathe easier and protect your long-term health.
Call us today or request an appointment online to get started.
