Pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the arteries of your lungs. This may also be called pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

These arteries carry blood from the heart to the lungs, where the blood picks up oxygen. The walls of the arteries may get thick, which narrows the space inside the arteries. When this happens, blood does not flow as well as it should. Pressure builds up in the arteries. Then your heart has to work harder to pump blood through your lungs.

Pulmonary hypertension may cause heart failure. Heart failure means that your heart doesn't pump as much blood as your body needs.

It can be stressful to learn that you have a problem with your lungs and heart. But there are things you can do to feel better and stay as active as you can.

At first, you may not notice any problems. But in time, you may have symptoms such as:

• Shortness of breath.
• Feeling tired, faint, or dizzy.
• Swelling (edema) in your legs, ankles, feet, and belly.
• Chest pain.

It can be hard to diagnose pulmonary hypertension, because many other conditions can cause the same symptoms. If your doctor thinks you have it, you may have tests such as:

• A chest X-ray.
• Lung function tests.
• An echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound test of the heart.
• A CT scan of the lungs.

You may also have a cardiac catheterization. This test can check the blood pressure in the lung arteries. For this test, a doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into the heart through a blood vessel.

Your doctor may do other tests to look for what's causing the high blood pressure in your lungs.

Your treatment options will depend on the type of pulmonary hypertension you have and how severe it is. If the cause was found, your doctor will give you treatment for that condition. You may be given special medicines to treat the high blood pressure in your lungs. These medicines work in different ways to help ease your heart's workload.

Other treatments that may be prescribed include:

• A diuretic to reduce fluid buildup.
• A blood thinner to help prevent blood clots.
• Oxygen therapy to make breathing easier.

Your doctor may suggest pulmonary rehab. This is a program that provides education and support for people with lung disease. Rehab may include an exercise program. Rehab can teach you ways to do your daily activities that save your energy as much as possible. It can also connect you with people who can help as you adjust to this disease.

Your doctor may also suggest palliative care. Palliative care is an extra layer of support that can improve your quality of life—not just in your body, but also in your mind and spirit. It can help you manage symptoms. It can also help you cope with your feelings about living with an illness.

Surgery, such as a heart or lung transplant or an angioplasty procedure, may be an option for some people.

Treatment can help you feel better and live longer. It may take some time to find the treatments that work best for you.