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What Is Pulmonary Hypertension? Hypertension or high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, is not unfamiliar to most people. However, few are aware of a form of hypertension that occurs in the lung. This is called pulmonary hypertension that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart. It occurs when pulmonary arteries (tiny arteries in the lung) become narrowed, blocked or destroyed. Such condition will make it harder for blood to flow through the lungs, and so pressure within the lungs' arteries rises. When the pressure builds, the heart's lower right chamber (right ventricle) must work harder to pump blood through the lungs, causing the heart muscle to weaken and eventually fail. People with pulmonary hypertension may have symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue (initially during exercise and eventually during at rest), dizziness or fainting spells, chest pressure or pain, swelling in the ankles, legs and eventually in the abdomen, bluish color to the lips and skin, and racing pulse or heart palpitations. It is a serious medical conditions, which may become progressively worse and can sometimes be fatal. While pulmonary hypertension is not curable, there are treatments that could help lessen symptoms and improve the quality of life. Victims of pulmonary hypertension are usually diagnosed quite late. It is estimated that most of them have been suffering symptoms for more than 2 years before the problem is diagnosed. Nevertheless, the survival rate has improved. In the 1980s, 68 percent of patients survived at least a year after being diagnosed, and now the figure has jumped to 85 percent. The outcome could have been better if one is diagnosed and treated earlier.
Basically, there are 2 types of pulmonary hypertension, namely idiopathic pulmonary hypertension and secondary pulmonary hypertension. When a person has an underlying cause for high blood pressure in the lungs that cannot be found, he or she is said to have idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (IPH). Some patients with IPH may have a gene that is risk factor for developing pulmonary hypertension, but in most patients, there is no recognized cause. Secondary pulmonary hypertension, which is more common, is a condition that is caused by another medical problem. Causes may include blood clots in the lungs, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases like emphysema, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders, congenital heart defects, and chronic liver disease. In general, pulmonary hypertension can simply occur in individuals of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds. Older adults are more likely to be victims of secondary pulmonary hypertension and young people are more likely to have IPH. IPH is also more common in women than it is in men. Family history can be another risk factor for pulmonary hypertension. Some genes could be linked to IPH. These genes cause an overgrowth of cells in the small arteries of the lungs, making them narrower. Treatment generally includes taking medications, making lifestyle and dietary changes, having surgery, if necessary, and of course seeing the doctor regularly. Medical treatment could control or lessen symptoms but may not cure pulmonary hypertension. If medications do not control the condition, open-heart surgery called atrial septostomy or in some cases, a lung or heart-lung transplant may be required. Lifestyle changes can also help improve the condition. Patients should get plenty of rest, not smoke, avoid becoming pregnant and using birth control pills, avoid traveling to or living at high altitudes, avoid situations that can excessively lower blood pressure, find ways to reduce stress, follow a nutritious diet, and stay at a healthy weight. Patients should also stay as active as possible though they are advised to consult their doctors about specific exercise restrictions. This is because even the mildest forms of activity may be too exhausting for some patients. For others, moderate exercise such as walking may be beneficial, and using oxygen during exercise may be especially helpful.
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