What is pulmonary hypertension? Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is high blood pressure in the heart-lung system, which supplies fresh (oxygenated) blood to the heart while returning used (oxygen-deprived) blood back to the lungs. Pulmonary hypertension is dangerous because it interferes with blood flow through the heart and lungs. High blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries causes the arteries to become narrow. As a result, the heart has to work harder to pump oxygen-poor blood to the lungs. What are the warning signs of pulmonary hypertension? Signs and symptoms of pulmonary hypertension include:

• Blue lips and skin (cyanosis)
• Pressure or pain in the chest.
• Dizziness or fainting (syncope)
• Rapid pulse or heartbeat (palpitations)
• Fatigue.
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea), initially during exercise and eventually at rest.

Causes

• Left and right atrium and left and right ventricles of the heart
• Ventricles and heart valvesOpen pop-up dialog box
• A typical heart has two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles). Each time blood passes through the heart, the lower right ventricle (right ventricle) pumps blood to the lungs through a large blood vessel (pulmonary artery).

In the lungs, the blood releases carbon dioxide and takes in oxygen. Blood usually flows easily through the blood vessels in the lungs (pulmonary arteries, capillaries and veins) to the left side of the heart. However, changes in the cells lining the pulmonary arteries can cause the arterial walls to become stiff, swollen and thick. These changes can slow or block blood flow through the lungs, causing pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension is classified into five groups, depending on the cause. Group 1: pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Causes include:

• Unknown cause (idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension)
• Gene changes passed down in the family (hereditary pulmonary arterial hypertension)
• Use of certain drugs or illegal substances
• Heart problems present at birth (congenital heart disease)
• Other conditions, such as HIV infection, chronic liver disease (cirrhosis) and connective tissue diseases (scleroderma, lupus, others)

Group 2: Pulmonary hypertension caused by left-sided heart disease. Causes include:

• Left-sided valvular heart disease, such as mitral or aortic valve disease
• Failure of the lower part of the left ventricle (left ventricle)

Group 3: Pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease Causes include:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Scarring of the tissue between the air sacs in the lungs (pulmonary fibrosis)
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Long-term exposure to high altitudes in people who may be at increased risk for pulmonary hypertension

Group 4: Pulmonary hypertension caused by chronic blood clots Causes include:

• Chronic blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) Other blood clotting disorders

Group 5: Pulmonary hypertension caused by other health conditions Causes include:

• Blood disorders, including polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia
• Inflammatory diseases, such as sarcoidosis and vasculitis
• Metabolic disorders, including glycogen storage disease
• Kidney diseases
• Tumors compressing the pulmonary arteries

Can pulmonary hypertension be cured? Pulmonary hypertension cannot be cured, but treatment can reduce symptoms and help manage the disease. If the cause is identified and treated early, it is possible to prevent permanent damage to the pulmonary arteries, which are the blood vessels that supply the lungs. What is the survival rate for pulmonary hypertension? Introduction Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a severe and progressive disease. Without treatment, median survival is 2.8 years, and survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years are 68%, 48% and 34%, respectively