Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Causes
Primary pulmonary hypertension is a disease of unknown cause; however, research are looking into possible factors that may contribute to the development of the disease including genetic inclination, disease of the immune system, and exposure to certain chemicals or drugs.
Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Definition
Primary pulmonary hypertension is a rare disease of unknown origin that leads to progressive narrowing of blood vessels of the lungs, which causes high blood pressure in the affected blood vessels resulting to heart failure.
Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Diagnosis
Cardiac catheterization with angiography is carried out to diagnose primary pulmonary hypertension after ruling out other possible causes of pulmonary hypertension because signs and symptoms may be used to misdiagnose the condition.
Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Symptoms and Signs
The symptoms of primary pulmonary hypertension include shortness of breath especially during exertion, extreme fatigue, weakness, dizziness or fainting, swollen ankles, cyanosis (bluish skin and lips), and chest pain.
Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Treatment
There are medications used to relieve the symptoms of primary pulmonary hypertension including vasodilators to stimulate dilation of blood vessels in the lungs in the hope to reduce blood pressure in the blood vessels. Anticoagulants are also used as part of the symptom management to decrease incidence of blood clotting in the lungs. Severe cases may require lung transplantation or lung-heart transplantation, whichever is appropriate for the condition.