Pulmonary Hypertension ===================== ### Definition Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and can lead to right-sided heart failure, cor pulmonale. ### Classification There are several classification systems for pulmonary hypertension: * **Group 1: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)** - Idiopathic or heritable PAH * Causes: * Unknown cause (idiopathic) * Genetic disorders * Exposure to toxins such as asbestos * Infections * Blood clotting disorders * Symptoms: Shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain * **Group 2: Pulmonary hypertension caused by left-sided heart disease** * Causes: * Left-sided heart valve disease (mitral valve or aortic valve) * Failure of the lower left heart chamber (left ventricle) * Symptoms: Shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain * **Group 3: Pulmonary hypertension caused by lung disease** * Causes: * Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) * Scarring of the tissue between the lung's air sacs (pulmonary fibrosis) * Obstructive sleep apnea * Long-term exposure to high altitudes in people who may be at higher risk of pulmonary hypertension * Symptoms: Shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain * **Group 4: Pulmonary hypertension caused by chronic blood clots** * Causes: * Chronic blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary emboli) * Other clotting disorders * Symptoms: Shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain * **Group 5: Pulmonary hypertension triggered by other health conditions** * Causes: * Blood disorders (polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia) * Inflammatory disorders (sarcoidosis and vasculitis) * Metabolic disorders (glycogen storage disease) * Kidney disease * Tumors pressing against pulmonary arteries * Symptoms: Shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain ### Risk Factors * Age: Pulmonary hypertension is more often diagnosed in people ages 30 to 60. * Family history: A family history of the condition can increase the risk of developing pulmonary hypertension. * Weight: Being overweight can raise the risk of developing pulmonary hypertension. * Blood-clotting disorders or a family history of blood clots in the lungs * Exposure to asbestos * Congenital heart disease * Living at a high altitude * Use of certain drugs, including some weight-loss medicines and illegal drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine * Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), used to treat depression and anxiety ### Complications * Right-sided heart enlargement and heart failure (cor pulmonale) * Blood clots * Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) * Bleeding in the lungs * Pregnancy complications