How to Recognize the Signs of Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary Hypertension or PH is a rare lung disease which shrinks the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. This results in abnormally high pressure in the pulmonary arteries which makes the right ventricle of the heart become weak and overworked. PH can be secondary, caused by another disease, or it can be idiopathic. Unfortunately it is usually misdiagnosed until it's later stages when treatments are less effective and more limited. However, even though it is progressive, with the proper medical treatment lifespan and quality of life can be dramatically improved.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Respond to any changes in limitations in exercise or everyday activities. Normally, PH begins slowly, patients get short of breath during normal workouts. Or, they notice it when climbing the stairs. Anytime unexplained shortness of breath is concerned, a doctor's visit is mandatory.
2. Visit a doctor if you've had any dizzy spells. Fainting and vertigo are often initial symptoms of Pulmonary Hypertension.
3. Determine the cause of any undiagnosed symptoms which include: fatigue, swelling in the ankles, abdomen or legs; blue lips, chest pain, heart palpitations or difficulty breathing. Often times when these symptoms finally occur the disease has progressed.
4. Know your family history. About 10 percent of PH is hereditary. However, the disease has only really been recognized more over the past 15 years. Often times patients report of an aunt or cousin with unexplained respiratory problems who died young. If PH is left untreated, life expectancy ranges from 1 - 3 years.
5. Be aware of any medical conditions that may lead to PH. Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension is more common than the Idiopathic Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. Some diseases such as: Lupus, chronic liver disease, Scleroderma, COPD, Pulmonary Fibrosis or Cystic Fibrosis may evolve into PH. Heart diseases, blood clots, sleep apnea, high altitudes and tumors can also lead to Secondary PH.
6. Know your body. Primary Pulmonary Hypertension can affect anyone at any age of any background. However, it is largely found in otherwise healthy females of child bearing age. Any signs of unexplained fatigue or shortness of breath must be checked out.
7. Recall if you've ever taken the diet drug Fen-phen. Now off the market, the appetite suppressant is responsible for thousands of PH patients. Often times the symptoms of PH do not show up until years after taking the drug.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have one of the diseases that may lead to Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension, doctors are more aware to look for it. The problem arises when a healthy 30 year old goes to the doctor and reports unexplained fatigue or shortness of breath when exercising. Doctors are not necessarily looking for a disease in which only 1 in a 1,000,000 people have. Know your body, know when there is something wrong, fight for a diagnosis.
• If you've been diagnosed with PH, get as much information as possible about the disease and how to live better with it.
• Join a support group. Pulmonary Hypertension is a life changing condition, speaking with other patients will help.
• Pulmonary Hypertension must be treated by a Pulmonary Hypertension Specialist. It is that complicated a condition that even a regular pulmonary doctor is not qualified to treat it.
• Primary Pulmonary Hypertension is rare enough that many doctors will not see one case of it over the span of their careers. The first step in diagnosis is often an Echocardiogram report of elevated pulmonary systolic pressure. However, some doctors will ignore the report because they are uniformed. If systolic pressures are high, you need to make an appointment with a specialist immediately.