Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension-various aspects-
Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs (pulmonary arteries).
It is very difficult to diagnose pulmonary hypertension in the early stages,only after 2-3 years after the onset or when the symptoms become severe then only it can be diagnosed.
It can cause damage to the right side of the heart.
The walls of the pulmonary arteries become thick and stiff, and as they cannot expand to allow blood through,so pulmonary hypertension occurs.
This results in reduced blood flow to the lungs which makes harder for the right side of the heart to pump blood through the arteries.
If the right side of your heart has to continually work harder, it can become weak. This can lead to heart failure.
Pulmonary hypertension has a rare incidence, but it can affect people of all ages, but it’s more common in people who have another heart or lung condition.
Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are-
shortness of breath.
tiredness.
feeling faint or dizzy.
chest pain (angina)
a racing heartbeat (palpitations)
swelling (oedema) in the legs, ankles, feet or tummy (abdomen)
The symptoms often get worse during exercise, which can limit your ability to involve in physical activities.
If a patient has a type of pulmonary hypertension called as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), he may not have any symptoms until the condition has reached in advanced stage.
If you have any symptoms of pulmonary hypertension you may consult your qualified and experienced physician (MD General Medicine) doctor who may SOS make reference to Cardiologist or Chest physician.
Correct diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension may be delayed sometimes as symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are similar to those of many other heart and lung conditions.
Investigations in pulmonary hypertension –
Chest X-ray
CTSCAN-Chest
MRI -Chest
ECG .Blood tests can enable to detect the cause of pulmonary hypertension
2-DECHO-which is the ultrasound of the heart.With the help of sound signals it gives measurement of the size and shape of the heart.It also gives idea of the pulmonary arterial pressure.
Right side heart catheterization to measure the pulmonary blood pressure.It is a gold standard in the measurement of pulmonary hypertension.
If the pulmonary blood pressure is more than 25 mm Hg at rest or more than 30 mm Hg during exertion, then it is diagnosed as pulmonary hypertension.
According to 6 minutes walk test the pulmonary hypertension is graded between 1-4
Stage-1 -In this there are no symptoms and there is no discomfort during exertion
Stage-4 -In this stage there are signs and symptoms of pulmonary hypertension at rest .
This stage is given the name of 6 minutes walk test as this test determines as to how much a patient of pulmonary hypertension can walk in 6 minutes and what is the response of body to this activity.
Depending on the response of this 6 minutes walk test ,further treatment is planned by doctors.
Complications of pulmonary hypertension –symptoms of pulmonary hypertension –arise only when problem crosses a certain limit.-As purified ,oxygen rich blood arrives in the right side of the heart first,it puts lot of stress on the right side of the heart causing right-sided heart failure.
As a result on the increased stress on the right ventricle it’s can cause a disease called right ventricular hypertrophy.
Due to thickened arterial wall there is occurrence of collapse of the right ventricle due to which the heart has to work more than it’s regular capacity .The dimensions of the ventricle increase and the blood pressure also rises .
This is life threatening complication and can result in death.
Blood may even enter the lungs, causing haemoptysis and can be lethal- this is very late in symptoms of pulmonary hypertension.
Arrythmia can also occur.
If any of these symptoms arises immediately the family me of the concerned individual should make phone call to an ambulance with oxygen facility, aperture, minimum two ward boys to shift the patient in hospital of a Cardiologist, or MD General Medicine doctors.
Etiology of pulmonary hypertension –In addition to some types of congenital heart disease, connective tissue disease, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, liver illness (cirrhosis), blood clots to the lungs, and chronic lung disorders including emphysema are other typical underlying causes of pulmonary hypertension.Cirrhosis is linked to pulmonary vasodilatation brought on by severe hypoxia and pulmonary arterial hypertension (portopulmonary hypertension) (hepatopulmonary syndrome). Conversely, liver pathology can result from cardio-pulmonary illness. It occurs due to the thickening of the blood vessels in the lungs.
This causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the lungs, thus reducing the volume of the blood vessels through which the blood can flow, this once the blood pressure and hence causes pulmonary hypertension .Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are seen in very late stages.Certain conitions which can lead to the genesis of symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are
Diseases of the connective tissue called sclerosis.
Congenital anomalies of the heart.
BMPR2 gene mutation
Some toxins, drugs
Cirrhosis of the liver causing scarring
Kidney failure
HIV infection
Pulmonary embolism by blood clots
Sarcoidosis
Sickle cell anemia
Metabolic disorders
Aortic stenosis
Heart valve diseases
Parasitic infection by worms like tapeworms
Copd
Frequenly climbing to high altitudes .
FAQs-
What are the first symptoms of pulmonary hypertension?
What are the warning signs of pulmonary hypertension ?
What are the most common presenting symptoms of pulmonary hypertension ?
What is the main cause of pulmonary hypertension ?
All detailed answers to these questions are given in the article on symptoms of hypertension above
This above article describes specifically symptoms of pulmonary hypertension,which is increased blood pressure in the pulmonary blood vessels only.
Systemic hypertension or generalised hypertension is a different aspect in which there is elevated blood pressure in blood vessels through out the entire human body.
For symptoms, eitiology, investigations, treatment of systemic hypertension pl click on he link given below
Obesity, hypertension, diabetes, elevated levels of serum cholesterol are frequently associated with each other
For details of diabetes -symptoms, types, eitiology, investigations, management pl click on the link given below
This one above is the link for the article on diabetes in our website www.healthuseful.com.
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