Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Causes Syptoms Treatment Complications
What are main causes symptoms complications management and treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension
 Definition of Pulmonary Hypertension:
Pulmonary hypertension is blood vessel disorder of the lung artries in which the pressure in the pulmonary artery (the blood vessel that leads from the heart to the lungs) rises above normal levels and may become life threatening. The blood pressure measured by cuff on your arm isn't directly related to the pressure in your lungs. The blood vessels that supply the lungs constrict and their walls thicken, so they can't carry as much blood. The heart works harder, trying to force the blood through. If the pressure is high enough, eventually the heart can't keep up, and less blood can circulate through the lungs to pick up oxygen.Normal blood pressure of pulmonary arteries is 25/15.
In some people, the bone marrow produces more red blood cells to compensate for less oxygen in the blood, leading to a condition called polycythemia . The extra red blood cells cause the blood to become thicker and stickier, further increasing the load on the heart. These changes also put a person with cor pulmonale at increased risk of pulmonary embolism because the thickened blood may clump and form clots, mainly in the veins of the legs. These clots can dislodge and travel to the lungs.
Types and causes of of Pulmonary Hypertension:
Primary PH: Cause not known. PPH is extremely rare, occurring in about two persons per million population per year.
Secondary PH: Cause known. Secondary to lungs eg asthama, emphysima, Cor pulmonale, inflammatory or collagen vascular diseases such as scleroderma, CREST syndrome or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Congenital heart diseases and heart diseases eg Left heart failure..Congenital heart diseases that cause shunting of extra blood through the lungs like ventricular and atrial septal defects, chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (old blood clots in the pulmonary artery), HIV infection, liver disease and diet drugs like fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine are also causes of pulmonary hypertension.
Symptoms of Pulmonary Hypertension:
Shortness of breath upon exertion is the most common symptom of pulmonary hypertension, and virtually everyone who has the condition develops it. Some people feel light-headed or fatigued upon exertion, and an angina-like chest pain is common. The person is likely to feel weak because body tissues are not receiving enough oxygen. Other symptoms, such as coughing and wheezing, are usually caused by the underlying lung disease. Swelling (edema), particularly of the legs, may occur because fluid may leak out of the veins and into the tissues, but this is usually a sign that cor pulmonale has developed.
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