Pulmonary Hypertension (PH)
What is Pulmonary Hypertension?
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is high blood pressure in the lungs.
High blood pressure in the lungs makes your heart work harder to pump blood through the lungs.This results in lower blood oxygen levels.1
COPD and PH have some symptoms in common, such as shortness of breath, chest pressure or pain, fatigue, and swelling in the feet, ankles or legs.
In This Article:
Different Types of Pulmonary Hypertension
There are five types of pulmonary hypertension (PH) that are caused by different diseases and risk factors.The five types of PH are:2
- Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), which is when PH happens for no clear reason.
- Heritable pulmonary hypertension, which is when PH runs in families.
- Pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease, which is when there are problems with the left side of the heart. This is the most common type of pulmonary hypertension.
- Pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease, including COPD, emphysema, or interstitial lung disease.
- Pulmonary hypertension due to chronic blood clots in the lungs, which can happen when a blood clot in the lungs can’t be dissolved and leads to scar tissue.
Diagnosing Pulmonary Hypertension
To diagnose pulmonary hypertension, a doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. They will also do a physical exam.
Your doctor may also do some tests, such as an echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. The gold standard test is a right heart catheterization, which measures the pressure in the heart and lungs.
These tests can help the doctor determine if you have pulmonary hypertension and what type it is.
Treating Pulmonary Hypertension
There is no cure for pulmonary hypertension, but lifestyle changes, medication, and surgery can manage it.
Lifestyle changes can reduce your symptoms and improve your overall health. They include:
- Quitting smoking
- Getting enough sleep
- Exercising regularly, as recommended by your doctor
- Eating a healthy diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Maintaining healthy oxygen levels
- Staying up to date on your vaccinations and medical check-ups
- Avoiding high altitudes
Medications can also help treat symptoms and complications of pulmonary hypertension. Talk to your doctor about what medication is right for you.
For cases of pulmonary hypertension that don’t respond well to medication, surgery may be necessary. Surgery, including a lung or heart transplant, can be risky and invasive, so it is only used in serious cases.
How Pulmonary Hypertension Affects COPD
Pulmonary hypertension is a common complication of COPD. It’s important to watch your blood oxygen levels, as consistently low blood oxygen can increase your risk of developing pulmonary hypertension.
Exercise is important for everyone with COPD, but if you have pulmonary hypertension or are ata high risk of developing it, avoid high intensity interval training (HIIT). HIIT workouts can increase pressure on your lungs and heart.
Remember also to breathe regularly during exercise; holding your breath during exercise can likewise add pressure on your heart.
Pursed lip breathing is a great technique to keep your blood oxygen level up and stop you from holding your breath!
What You Can Do Today
- Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about your heart or lung function.
- Use oxygen and all medication as prescribed by your doctor.
- Use your pulse oximeter to ensure your blood oxygen level.
- Practice pursed lip breathing.
Resources
https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/pulmonary-hypertension.pdf
Pulmonary Hypertension Association: https://phassociation.org/patients/aboutph/
Pulmonary Hypertension Association: https://phassociation.org/types-pulmonary-hypertension-groups/