Skip to main content

Are You Suffering From These Signs of Pulmonary Hypertension?

Are You Suffering From These Signs of Pulmonary Hypertension?

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common medical problem, affecting about half of all adults in the United States. This type of hypertension is sometimes called systemic hypertension because it refers to the blood flow throughout your entire body. 

But systemic hypertension isn’t the only kind of hypertension you can have. Pulmonary hypertension is another type of high blood pressure that affects the blood flow in your lungs, and it’s much rarer than systemic hypertension, occurring in a handful of every million adults.

There is no cure for pulmonary hypertension, and without medical treatment, it can be deadly. The problem is, many of the symptoms associated with PH can be easily confused with other medical problems, like asthma or other lung or airway diseases. To make sure you get care promptly, you need to know the signs and symptoms of PH.

The team at California Lung Associates offers the most advanced treatment options for pulmonary hypertension, helping patients get the care they need to reduce symptoms and slow disease progression. Here’s what they want you to know about the symptoms PH can cause.

Pulmonary hypertension: Why it happens

Pulmonary hypertension has a few underlying causes, including:

Pulmonary hypertension caused by an underlying medical problem is called secondary pulmonary hypertension. When PH happens without an underlying medical problem, it’s called primary pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension can also be inherited, and some types of PH have no known cause (called idiopathic PH). Not surprisingly, PH is more common among people who smoke, and it also becomes more common with age.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a subset of pulmonary hypertension. While PH includes high blood pressure in the lungs from any cause, PAH is high blood pressure that happens on the right side of the heart, making it a lot harder for the heart to pump blood to the lungs.

PH symptoms: What to look for

The most common symptoms of pulmonary hypertension include:

Some people with PH have all these symptoms, but many have only a few. 

Some of the symptoms of PH are similar to the symptoms associated with other health issues, like asthma, COPD, smoking habit, and even obesity. That’s why it’s easy for many people to overlook their symptoms or simply to attribute them to “getting older.”

Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive disease, which means it gets worse over time. Without medical care, PH can quickly become life-threatening. With prompt intervention by a lung specialist, you can relieve your symptoms and improve your lung health, too.

Treating pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension requires an individualized approach to care that evolves as your symptoms change with time. Many people with PH benefit from a combination of therapies, including:

The key is to seek medical treatment as early as possible to protect your lungs and improve your lung function and your heart health, too.

If you’re having any symptoms associated with PH, call our Los Angeles office to schedule an evaluation with the team at California Lung Associates today.

You Might Also Enjoy...

What You Can Do About Emphysema

What You Can Do About Emphysema

Chronic lung conditions can leave you breathless, but treating your chronic respiratory condition can help you live a healthier, more normal life, as well as reduce your risk of complications. Read on to learn more.
Do You Have an Asthma Action Plan?

Do You Have an Asthma Action Plan?

An asthma attack is a scary experience. Having a plan to protect your life is essential to successfully living with asthma. Learn more and get help making a plan for better living with asthma.
5 Factors That Put You at Risk for COPD

5 Factors That Put You at Risk for COPD

It’s easy to think of COPD as a smoker’s disease, since smoking is by far the main cause. But there are other factors that put you at risk for this chronic lung condition — and if you live in Los Angeles, you have at least one of them.
How You Can Know Your Blood Oxygen Levels

How You Can Know Your Blood Oxygen Levels

Though most people don’t have to worry about their blood oxygen saturation, it’s an important piece of dynamic information for people living with COPD. Read on to learn more about oxygen and COPD.
Non-Smoking Causes of COPD

Non-Smoking Causes of COPD

You might think COPD is a “smoker’s disease,” but actually, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can affect non-smokers, too. Knowing the risk factors for COPD can help you get treatment as soon as possible. Here’s more information.