what is primary pulmonary hypertension?

Answer 1

What is primary pulmonary hypertension?
Primary pulmonary hypertension is a progressive disorder characterized by abnormally high blood pressure (hypertension) that affects arteries in the lungs (pulmonary arteries). Hypertension is caused by the narrowing (obstruction) of very small arteries throughout the lungs. "Primary" means that the condition is not caused by other diseases of the heart or lungs.

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) and fatigue are the most common symptoms of primary pulmonary hypertension. People with this disorder may experience additional symptoms, particularly as the condition worsens. Other symptoms include dizziness, fainting spells, swelling (edema) of the ankles or legs, chest pain, and a racing pulse.

Answer 2

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
What is primary pulmonary hypertensiPrimary, or unexplained, pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a rare lung disorder in which the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery rises far above normal levels for no apparent reason. The pulmonary artery is the blood vessel carrying oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle, one of the pumping chambers of the heart, to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood picks up oxygen and then flows to the left side of the heart, where it is pumped by the left ventricle to the rest of the body through the aorta.

Hypertension is the medical term for an abnormally high blood pressure. Normal mean pulmonary-artery pressure is approximately 14 mmHg at rest. In the PPH patient, the mean blood pressure in the pulmonary artery is greater than 25 mmHg at rest and 30 mmHg during exercise. This abnormally high pressure (pulmonary hypertension) is associated with changes in the small blood vessels in the lungs, resulting in an increased resistance to blood flowing through the vessels.

This increased resistance, in turn, places a strain on the right ventricle, which now has to work harder than usual against the resistance to move adequate amounts of blood through the lungs.

People at risk are women between 20 and 40 years old, although the disease can affect any sex and age. The incidence is 8 out of 100,000 people. It is rare in children. More common is pulmonary hypertension in infants with persistent fetal circulation.

What are the symptoms of primary pulmonary hypertension?
progressive shortness of breath with activity
hyperventilation
chest pain under the sternum
weakness
fatigue
fainting
lightheadedness

How is primary pulmonary hypertension diagnosed?
Your doctor will take your history and perform a physical exam. He/she will look for enlargement of the veins in the neck, enlargement of the liver, and edema (fluid retention).

Certain diagnostic tests and/or imaging procedures can help diagnose primary pulmonary hypertension. They include:

ECG
chest X-ray
echocardiogram
cardiac catheterization
lung scan
pulmonary arteriogram

How is primary pulmonary hypertension treated?
There is no known cure. The goal of treatment is control of the symptoms. Some people respond to treatment with vasodilators. Other medications used to relieve symptoms include diuretics and calcium channel blockers. As the disease progresses, oxygen may be needed for shortness of breath. Heart-lung transplantation for suitable candidates with available donors has been successful.

Answer 3

IT IS NOT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.......

Primary or unexplained pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a rare lung disorder in which the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery rises far above normal levels for no apparent reason. The pulmonary artery is a blood vessel carrying oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle (one of the heart's pumping chambers) to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood picks up oxygen, then flows to the heart's left side, where the left ventricle pumps it to the rest of the body through the aorta.

Hypertension is a medical term for abnormally high blood pressure. Normal average (also called "mean") pulmonary artery pressure is about 14 mm Hg at rest. In patients with PPH, the average blood pressure in the pulmonary artery is greater than 25 mm Hg at rest and greater than 30 mm Hg during exercise. This abnormally high pressure (pulmonary hypertension) is linked with changes in the small blood vessels in the lungs. These changes increase resistance to blood flowing through the vessels. This increased resistance puts a strain on the right ventricle, which now must work harder than usual to move enough blood through the lungs.

See a doctor if you think you have this..

Answer 4

well SECONDARY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION is...

1) when the smooth muscle of the heart gets bigger (*hypertrophy)

2)cell tissues stiffen forming scar tissue (*intimal hypertrophy)

3)reduction in endoginous nitric oxide (*when cells do not dilate,so the heart wont be able to dilate the pulmonary artery, which means it cant stretch like it should to pump blood around)

which basically means that every thing pushing onto the pulmonary artery which pumps the blood is getting stiffer making it difficult to push the blood from right to left ventricals

.....so PRIMARY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION may mean there is a hole in the heart or another heart defect/problem, which left untreated will cause secondary pulmonary hypotension which is what i just explained above. so its important to get it checked out before it gets to the above stages. an operation may be able to heal a hole in the heart, and medication.
Hope this helps !!!!

Answer 5

PPH is caused by a narrowing of the pulmonary artery. Factors for this could include Raynard's Syndrome, HIV, Charlie (cocaine). This narrowing constricts the bloods natural flow from the heart to the lungs so resulting in high blood pressure. Drugs can be prescribed to compensate this. Oxygen can also help. Surgery (transplant) is a final option if the PPH is too far advanced.

Answer 6

High pressure in the lungs usually due to an enlarged heart or congestive heart failure. can be very life threatening

Answer 7

I believe it is a disorder caused by high blood pressure.

Answer 8

high blood pressure

Answer 9

high blood pressure

Answer 10

high blood pressure.