Pulmonary Hypertension in Adults

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is pulmonary hypertension? " пїЅ Pulmonary hypertension is a condition that causes high blood pressure in the blood vessels that carry blood to the lungs. When this happens, the heart has to work harder. This causes people to have trouble breathing and to feel very tired. пїЅ пїЅ

What are the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension? " пїЅ The early symptoms include: пїЅ пїЅ

Trouble breathing when moving around
Feeling very tired

Over time, you might get other symptoms, including: пїЅ пїЅ

Swelling of the legs and feet
Chest pain
Fainting
Not feeling hungry
Belly pain

Rare symptoms include: пїЅ пїЅ

Cough
Spitting up blood
A hoarse voice

Will I need tests? " пїЅ Yes. The tests depend on your symptoms and any other health problems you might have. You might get one or both of the following tests: пїЅ пїЅ

Echocardiogram " пїЅ This test uses sound waves to create pictures of your heart.
Pulmonary artery catheterization " пїЅ This test measures the pressure in the blood vessels that go to your lungs. Your doctor will advance a thin, flexible tube (called a "catheter " пїЅ) into a blood vessel in your groin, neck, or shoulder area. The catheter goes to the blood vessels in your heart.

You might also need other tests to find what might be causing your pulmonary hypertension. These include: пїЅ пїЅ

A chest X-ray or CT scan (a special kind of X-ray)
An ECG " пїЅ This test measures your hearts electrical activity
Blood tests
Tests to check how well you lungs are working
A sleep study " пїЅ This test checks your breathing, oxygen level, and other body functions while you are sleeping overnight. These tests can sometimes be done at home, but they are often done in a sleep lab.

How is pulmonary hypertension treated? " пїЅ Treatments include a number of different medicines. Some are injected into the skin or through a tube called an "IV. " пїЅ Others are given as pills and include: пїЅ пїЅ

Diuretics such as furosemide (brand name: Lasix) " пїЅ These medicines help control swelling in the legs and feet.
Warfarin (brand names: Coumadin, Jantoven) " пїЅ This helps prevent blood clots in the lungs.

Your doctor might also have you use extra oxygen, which comes in a metal or plastic cylinder that you can take around with you. The oxygen flows through a tube into 2 plastic tubes that you put in your nostrils. пїЅ пїЅ

Some people with pulmonary hypertension are too tired to be very active. But if you can do some activity, walking or other light exercises can be helpful. Check with your doctor before you begin exercising. пїЅ пїЅ

People with very serious symptoms might need surgery. One option is a special type of heart surgery to make a hole in the heart to ease its workload. The other is a lung transplant or a heart-lung transplant. A transplant is a type of surgery in which a doctor replaces a diseased organ with a healthy one. пїЅ пїЅ

What will my life be like? " пїЅ Pulmonary hypertension is a serious illness. Some cases can't be treated, and for those that can, there is no cure. The disease gets worse over time and is likely to make it hard for you to do everyday things, like bathing and dressing. But medicines and oxygen might make you feel better and live longer. You will need to see your doctor often to check if you need to change the dose of the medicines you take. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 17227 Version 3.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.206 пїЅ пїЅ

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Pulmonary Hypertension in Adults

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

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