In this video, a Temple nurse practitioner talks about the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension and how it's diagnosed.
In this video, a Temple nurse practitioner talks about the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension and how it's diagnosed.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is high blood pressure in the arteries in the lungs that can arise from numerous causes. Specific types of pulmonary hypertension will result in right heart failure if the condition goes untreated.
Our team of cardiologists and pulmonologists is highly experienced in treating all forms of this life-threatening disease.
Types of Pulmonary Hypertension
There are several types of pulmonary hypertension:
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension — This type occurs when the arteries in the lungs become narrowed, thickened or stiff, causing the heart to pump less efficiently.
- Pulmonary hypertension resulting from left heart disease — The most common type of PH that occurs when the heart has problems pumping or valve disease is present.
- Pulmonary hypertension resulting from lung disease and/or lack of oxygen — This is caused by chronic lung diseases such as COPD or pulmonary fibrosis.
- Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) — In this PH type, chronic blood clots form in the lungs. At Temple, we have the largest program on the East Coast for the diagnosis and treatment of CTEPH.
- Pulmonary hypertension caused by less common or multifactorial conditions — Sometimes the cause of PH is not known but may be linked to some other disease or disorder.