What is Pulmonary Hypertension (PH)?
What you need to know
- Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a disorder in which the pressure in the pulmonary arteries is above normal.
- There are five main types of PH which affect people in different ways, these include:
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
- Pulmonary hypertension owing to left heart disease (e.g. PH-LVD)
- Pulmonary hypertension owing to lung diseases and/or hypoxemia (e.g. PH-COPD or PH-ILD)
- Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)
- Pulmonary hypertension with unclear multifactorial mechanisms (miscellaneous PH)
- PAH is one of the most rare forms of PH (WHO class I diagnostic classification) and can be idiopathic (meaning the cause is unknown) or heritable (genetically determined). PAH is associated with the following diseases and conditions:
- Connective tissue diseases
- Congenital heart defects
- Portal hypertension
- HIV Infection (AIDS)
- Medications/drug use/appetite suppressants
- Other factors
Who does PH affect and how common is it?
- PH affects approximately 25 million people worldwide.
- Globally, an estimated 360,000 people suffer from PAH.
- People of all ages, including children, can develop PH although it is most likely to be diagnosed between 40-50 years of age.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of PH are often not obvious and can be confused with other common conditions. The most common symptoms of PH include:
- Shortness of breath particularly upon physical exercise
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Fainting
Often, by the time the symptoms do appear, the disease is well advanced. As the symptoms of PH are non-specific, diagnosis can be delayed by as much as two years.
If you are experiencing symptoms, please visit your doctor immediately
References
McLaughlin, VV et al. ACCF/AHA 2009 expert consensus document on pulmonary hypertension. J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 28;53(17):1573-619.
Simonneau G et al. Updated clinical classification of pulmonary hypertension. J Am Coll Cardiol 2009;54 (1 Suppl S): S43-54).
Rosenkranz S. Pulmonary hypertension: current diagnosis and treatment. Clin Res Cardiol 2007; 96(8):527–41.
Elliott, C et al. Worldwide physician education and training in pulmonary hypertension: pulmonary vascular disease: the global perspective. CHEST 2010; 137(6):85s-94s.
PuckerUp4PH website http://www.puckerup4ph.com/about-ph.php Accessed January 2010.
Benisty JI. Pulmonary Hypertension. Circulation 2002;106;e192-e194.
Peacock, A. Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension. BMJ 2003;326;853-836.
Cardiac catheterisation, Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) UK. Available from: http://www.phassociation.uk.com/what_is_ph/cardiac_catheterisation.php . Last accessed: 19 July 2011.
