Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is a type of high blood pressure which affects the arteries of the lungs and the right side of heart. There are many causes of PH such as lung abnormalities or heart defects.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, fast heart beat, and pain the in the chest. These are generally caused by a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) in the body due to the heart’s inability to work normally.
Causes
There are many causes of PH including left-sided heart disease, lung disease, and genetic disorders. Many of these problems can be identified through various related testing. When PH forms for no known cause, it is considered idiopathic PH.
Treatments
There is no cure for PH, but there are certain medications that can lessen the symptoms and improve quality of life. These include vasodilators such as Remodulin, Sildenafil (Viagra), and Lasix. Supplemental oxygen is also often used to increase the amount available in the blood.