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.
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.
Pulmonary hypertension can be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed until advanced stages leading to complex, multisystem medical issues. Our goal is to expedite patients’ access to specialized care and ultimately improve patient outcomes through a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach.
The Summa Health Pulmonary Hypertension/Cardiopulmonary Clinic offers specialized care for patients with:
To learn more about the Pulmonary Hypertension/Cardiopulmonary Clinic, call 330.319.9700.
