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Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs (pulmonary arteries). It's a serious condition that can damage the right side of the heart. The walls of the pulmonary arteries become thick and stiff, and cannot expand as well to allow blood through. The reduced blood flow makes it harder for the right ...
- Treatment
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- Diagnosis
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- Causes
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- Heart Failure
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- Shortness of Breath
a chest infection. being overweight. smoking. a panic...
- Treatment
- Overview
- How can hypertension cause shortness of breath?
- What are the other symptoms of pulmonary hypertension?
- What are the complications of shortness of breath from hypertension?
- What is the treatment for shortness of breath from hypertension?
- What’s the outlook for people with shortness of breath from hypertension?
- Can you prevent shortness of breath from hypertension?
- Frequently asked questions
- Takeaway
Not being able to catch your breath is scary, but shortness of breath can occur in a wide range of medical conditions, including high blood pressure and pulmonary hypertension.
Traditional hypertension (high blood pressure) is diagnosed when your heart has to beat harder and with more force to overcome narrow or blocked blood vessels in your body. This problem can be the result of things like high cholesterol and hardening of the arteries.
Pulmonary hypertension — high blood pressure affecting the heart and lungs — sounds similar, but in this case, the increased pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs may not be widespread. Instead, the real problem is with the pressure in the arteries that move blood between your heart and lungs.
Read on for more about how high blood pressure can affect your breathing and other ways your blood pressure might be linked to shortness of breath.
High blood pressure may not cause noticeable symptoms, which is why it’s called “the silent killer.”
When you have high blood pressure, your heart has to work much harder to pump blood to your entire body. Overworking your heart can, over time, lead to a number of other health problems like cardiovascular disease, which can cause shortness of breath as a symptom.
Some people with hypertension may experience a hypertensive emergency or crisis during which their blood pressure becomes extremely elevated. This medical emergency can cause shortness of breath because of the associated edema or swelling. A hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical care.
Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure affecting the heart and lungs. It develops when the pressure inside the vessels that move blood between your heart and lungs is high.
Pulmonary hypertension, on the other hand, can appear not just with shortness of breath but with these other symptoms, too:
•fatigue
•chest pain
•high heart rate (tachycardia)
•pain in the upper abdomen
•loss of appetite
Shortness of breath or labored breathing can lead to all kinds of complications, whether the cause is hypertension or something else.
Untreated shortness of breath can cause hypoxia, which is low levels of oxygen in your blood and tissues. When this happens, certain tissues — especially critical organs like the brain and heart — become permanently injured or destroyed.
Additionally, untreated high blood pressure can increase your risk of developing a wide range of cardiovascular problems, including heart disease and even stroke or heart attack.
For pulmonary hypertension, in particular, the main complication to watch for is heart failure. Long-term overworking of the heart actually enlarges and weakens cardiac muscles, and your heart pumps less effectively. When this happens, oxygenated blood can’t get to where it needs to go, resulting in tissue damage and other serious problems.
General hypertension can be treated with a combination of diet and lifestyle changes and medications. If you have pulmonary hypertension specifically, you may be prescribed various inhaled, oral, or intravenous medications or even oxygen therapy.
Like with general hypertension, you should also consider making the following changes, if applicable:
•quitting smoking.
•monitoring your weight closely for rapid increases
•eating a balanced, healthy diet
•getting regular exercise
There’s no singular cure for pulmonary hypertension, and even symptom management and ongoing treatments can be complicated by the management of other health problems you may have.
Managing conditions like heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases can help you keep pulmonary hypertension from leading to potentially life threatening complications.
Not all cases of general high blood pressure or pulmonary hypertension are preventable, but there are several things you can do to reduce your chances of these conditions and other cardiovascular diseases.
Quitting smoking, eating a nutritious diet, and getting regular exercise are all helpful, but it’s also important to take any medications your healthcare professional prescribes you.
Is pulmonary hypertension curable?
Pulmonary hypertension isn’t really curable, but it’s treatable. Your doctor will prescribe things like medications and things like oxygen therapy to help you manage your symptoms.
Does pulmonary hypertension run in families?
Not all pulmonary hypertension is inherited, but the condition does run in some families. Tell your doctor if you know of a close blood relative with pulmonary hypertension.
Is shortness of breath from pulmonary hypertension fatal?
Shortness of breath for any reason can be life threatening if it becomes severe enough. If you experience shortness of breath that causes symptoms like fainting, lightheadedness, confusion, or loss of consciousness, seek immediate medical attention.
Hypertension, heart failure, and other cardiovascular diseases can all develop into serious medical issues that may appear with shortness of breath.
Pulmonary hypertension, a type of high blood pressure that develops in the blood vessels between your heart and lungs, is the main kind of hypertension that results in shortness of breath.
140/90 or higher when checked by a healthcare professional. 135/85 or higher when checked at home. If you're aged 80 or over, you're usually considered to have high blood pressure if your reading is either: 150/90 or higher when checked by a healthcare professional. 145/85 or higher when checked at home.
a chest infection. being overweight. smoking. a panic attack. But sometimes shortness of breath could be a sign of something more serious, such as: a lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) scarring of the lungs known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. heart failure. lung cancer.
Jul 28, 2023 · Symptoms get worse as the disease progresses. Pulmonary hypertension symptoms include: Shortness of breath, at first while exercising and eventually while at rest. Blue or gray skin color due to low oxygen levels. Depending on your skin color, these changes may be harder or easier to see. Chest pressure or pain.
4 days ago · Pulmonary hypertension is high pressure inside the pulmonary arteries, which are the vessels carrying blood from the right-hand side of the heart to the lungs. It is a serious medical condition as it results in damage to the right-hand side of the heart muscle, making the heart muscle less efficient at pumping blood and oxygen around the body.
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Apr 28, 2024 · Summary. Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects blood flow into the lungs. It can cause chest pain, dizziness, fainting, and shortness of breath. Disease progression depends on the cause. Treatments can include different medications and lung or heart transplants in extreme cases.
