Problem of pulmonary hypertension

Millions of individuals suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure, a condition wherein the blood passes through the arteries of the body at a particular pressure that’s too high for one’s good health. A less common kind, referred to as pulmonary hypertension, affects the lung’s arteries and can worsen if left untreated.

Pulmonary hypertension begins when the little arteries found in the lungs turn narrow or are blocked.

This results in increased blood flow resistance in the lungs, which increases the pressure in its pulmonary arteries. Your heart’s right ventricle is then forced to pump blood harder to your lungs due to increased pressure. This will weaken your heart’s muscles, resulting to complete failure.

Causes of pulmonary hypertension vary. If the cause for such high blood pressure can’t be determined, the condition becomes primary pulmonary hypertension. Diet drugs such as fen-phen and cocaine are two substances believed to contribute PPH in some individuals. There are also some people who have acquired predisposition to PPH. This is normally triggered by medical conditions like AIDS, lupus, scleroderma, and chronic liver cirrhosis. A medical problem that directly results to pulmonary hypertension is known as secondary pulmonary hypertension. These include sleep apnea, lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary emboli, heart failure in the left ventricle, and hypoxemia due to high altitude.

You can initially detect if you’re suffering pulmonary hypertension through these following signs and symptoms. They may gradually worsen as time passes:

Fatigue
Chest pain or pressure
Shortness of breath
Fainting spells or dizziness
Edema, or swelling of the legs, ankles, or abdomen
Cyanosis, or bluish discoloration in your skin and lips
Heart palpitations

A proper diagnosis from a doctor is the very first step you need to take to determine if you have pulmonary hypertension. These may include taking some tests such as ultrasonic cardiography. It is a noninvasive physical examination that utilizes harmless sound waves to permit your physician to observe your heart through a transducer, a small plastic device placed in your chest. It collects heart echoes and is transmitted to another machine that makes use of sound wave patterns to create images of your heart in the monitor.

Physicians should have adequate skill to discover the best kind of treatment for individuals with pulmonary hypertension. These treatments can be complex and may need extensive care. He may also need to modify your treatment should it prove to be non-effective anymore. The treatment should fit the type of pulmonary hypertension suffered, age, and the overall condition of your health.

What you can do to elevate your situation, however, is to relieve yourself from symptoms. First you need to get adequate rest so you can combat fatigue that often accompanies the disease. You also have to maintain a well-balanced diet and regulate your weight. Don’t smoke, as this vice is known to damage your lungs and will only aggravate your condition. Some activities may be tiring for those with pulmonary hypertension, but if you can, perform some moderate exercises like walking. The oxygen you will use can be extremely helpful. You can inquire from your doctor of the best exercise plan for you.