Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension happens when the pressure in the blood vessels leading from the heart to the lungs is too high. Arteries in the lungs narrow and blood does not flow as well as it should, resulting in less oxygen in the blood. Symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pressure chronic fatigue, swollen ankles or legs, and a dry cough. These symptoms are very common in many other diseases, which is why pulmonary hypertension is more difficult to diagnose and treat.
Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension
Medications and oxygen therapy can help lessen symptoms and improve quality of life. Testing may include pulmonary function tests (PFTs), oxygen testing, sleep studies, echocardiograms or right heart catheterizations. Our pulmonary team works collaboratively with the Summa Health Pulmonary Hypertension/Cardiopulmonary Clinic and sleep medicine specialists to offer optimal care for this complex patient population.
Summa Health Pulmonary Hypertension/Cardiopulmonary Clinic
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension
- Family history of pulmonary arterial hypertension
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Dyspnea of unknown origin, not explained by existing cardiopulmonary conditions (no obvious cause on PFTs or ECHO)
- Hematological malignancies with dyspnea on exertion (DOE)
- Autoimmune process with DOE
- HIV with DOE
- Liver disease with worsening DOE
- History of multiple DVTs/PEs
- Presence of severe chronic pulmonary condition (COPD, emphysema, IPF, etc.)
- Mixed heart and lung disease with dyspnea, requiring a multi-disciplinary consultation
