The Heart Of The Matter: Understanding Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

World Heart Day is celebrated on the 29th of September to raise awareness of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Most CVDs are preventable; all that is required is making considerable lifestyle changes. One of the cardiovascular diseases is pulmonary arterial hypertension. The right treatments can help improve the quality of your life while managing the disease.

What you need to know:

What is pulmonary arterial hypertension?

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Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a kind of high blood pressure that impacts the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart. Here, the blood vessels in the lungs either get blocked, narrowed or destroyed, slowing down blood flow. This results in higher blood pressure, making the heart work harder to pump blood through the lungs. This will eventually cause the heart muscles to weaken, leading to heart failure.

Causes and Risk Factors of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Often, pulmonary arterial hypertension is diagnosed in people aged between 30 and 60 years. These are some of the risks associated with the disease:

Congestive heart failure
Blood clots in the lungs
HIV
Being overweight
Smoking
A family history of blood-clotting disorders
Asbestos exposure
Having a congenital heart defect
Living at a high altitude
Illegal drug use
Liver disease
Sleep apnea

The heart has two lower chambers and two upper chambers. The lower right chamber pumps blood to the lungs, passing through a large blood vessel. But any cell changes in the lung arteries can make the artery walls narrow, stiff, swollen and thick, resulting in blood flow either slowing down or stopping.

Signs and symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Unlike other diseases, pulmonary arterial hypertension symptoms develop slowly. You may not notice them easily for months or even years, while the symptoms worsen as the disease progresses.

Shortness of breath
Blue or gray skin color owing to low oxygen levels
Chest pain
Fainting spells
Pounding heartbeat
Fatigue
Swelling on the legs, ankles and belly

Diagnosis and testing for pulmonary arterial hypertension

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After the preliminary questions on shortness of breath, your doctor may ask you to get the following tests done:

Blood tests
Chest X-ray
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
Echocardiogram
Right heart catheterization
Exercise stress tests
A cardiac CT scan
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Lung function test
Ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan
Lung biopsy
Genetic testing

Treatment options for pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension treatments vary from person to person. So, it is essential to consult a doctor about your treatment options and what to expect. Doctors may also prescribe treatments that improve your breathing, like oxygen therapy, so you can stay active and carry out daily tasks. The doctor may prescribe blood thinners if you are likely suffering from blood clots. Consult a medical health professional or family doctor to recommend a medication plan.

Lifestyle changes to manage pulmonary arterial hypertension

Here are some small changes that make a big impact on your daily life:

Keep a journal: Take simple steps and write down a list of things to do, like

Phone calls to make or household tasks
Your symptoms each day and their severity
Questions for your healthcare team
Medical appointments dates

Watch your diet: Eating a balanced diet with wholesome, nutritious diet is recommended to keep your energy levels up. Consume:

Fresh fruits and vegetables
Whole-grain foods
Lean chicken and fish
And limit fatty foods and salt intake

Appropriate physical activity: Certain physical activities will strain the lungs; however, some forms of exercise could help you stay active.

Quit smoking: Don’t further contribute to breathing difficulties. Quit smoking, as it may cause the blood vessels in your lungs to tighten even more.

Get regular body check-ups and lead a healthy lifestyle to keep pulmonary arterial hypertension or any other cardiovascular disease at bay.

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