Download Pulmonary Hypertension

From upper
body
Pulmonary Hypertension
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lun
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Left atrium
Left ventricle
Right ventricle
From lower
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Healthy pulmonary
arterial vessel
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Pulmonary
hypertension
TREATMENT
SYMPTOMS
Initial symptoms may be very mild and diagnosis may be delayed for several years until
symptoms worsen. Some symptoms include
• Shortness of breath with exertion
• Ankle swelling
• Excessive fatigue
• Bluish color of lips and skin
• Dizziness and fainting
• Chest pain
DIAGNOSIS
The treatment of choice for
pulmonary hypertension depends
on the cause and severity of the
condition in a particular patient.
Treatments range from therapy
for the underlying condition (eg,
treating sleep apnea or blood clots)
to medicines that lower the blood
pressure in the lungs. Treatment of
pulmonary hypertension generally
requires the care of a specialist.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
• American Lung Association
www.lung.org
• National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health
-topics/topics/pah
INFORM YOURSELF
If your doctor suspects pulmonary hypertension, he or she may perform a series of tests
to measure the blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries and to determine how well the
lungs and heart are working, as well as tests to rule out other diseases. There is not one
specific test to diagnose pulmonary hypertension.
Sources: American Lung Association; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator
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Right atrium
ASSOCIATED MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Denise M. Goodman, MD, MS, Writer
Fro
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m lu
• Connective tissue diseases (autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma, sarcoidosis, or lupus)
• Low oxygen levels due to heart or lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease [COPD]) or high altitude
• Portal hypertension (resulting from liver disease)
• HIV infection
• Drugs and toxins (such as appetite suppressants, cocaine, or amphetamines)
• Myeloproliferative disorders (overproduction of red blood cells or white blood cells)
• Hemoglobinopathies (abnormal oxygen-carrying proteins in red blood cells, such as
found in sickle cell anemia)
• Blood clots in the pulmonary arteries
• Obesity with obstructive sleep apnea
• Thyroid disorders
John L. Zeller, MD, Writer
Main
pulmonary artery
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To lun
To lung
Fro
lood leaves the heart through a large blood vessel called the
pulmonary artery. It flows through the lungs, absorbing oxygen, and
then returns to the heart to be pumped through another large vessel,
the aorta, to the body. Just as a person has a normal blood pressure for
the body, he or she also has a normal blood pressure for the blood
passing through the lungs. In a person with pulmonary hypertension,
the pressure becomes abnormally elevated. This happens because the
small arteries in the lung become abnormally narrow. As a consequence,
blood cannot pass easily through the lungs to absorb oxygen,
compromising the delivery of oxygen-rich blood to the tissues of the
body. Because the heart is working harder against the high pressure, heart
failure can develop. Pulmonary hypertension can be idiopathic (the cause
is unknown) or inherited (runs in families and is often linked to a specific
gene) or may be associated with other medical issues. The October 3, 2012,
issue of JAMA contains an article about pulmonary hypertension. This
Patient Page is based on one previously published in the October 7, 2009,
issue of JAMA.
To upper
body
LUNG DISEASES
The Journal of the American Medical Association
JAMA PATIENT PAGE
To find this and previous JAMA
Patient Pages, go to the Patient
Page link on JAMA’s website at
www.jama.com. Many are available in
English and Spanish.
The JAMA Patient Page is a public service of JAMA. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical
condition, JAMA suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be photocopied
noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients.
To purchase bulk reprints, call 312/464-0776.
Edward H. Livingston, MD, Editor
1390
JAMA, October 3, 2012—Vol 308, No. 13
©2012 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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