Living with Pulmonary arterial hypertension
A progressive condition in which blood pressure in the lung arteries is too high, causing shortness of breath and fainting.
Understanding Pulmonary arterial hypertension
The tiny arteries in the lungs narrow, which makes it harder for blood to flow through. The heart's right side must work harder, and over time this can damage the right ventricle. It can start at any time in life.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD says the most common are:
- Shortness of breath with activity (dyspnea)
- Fainting spells
- Dizziness
- Swelling in the ankles or legs
- Chest pain
- Fast heartbeat
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include genetic specialists and lung and breathing specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Pulmonary Hypertension Association may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Genetic specialists (geneticists); Lung and breathing specialists (pulmonologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Pulmonary Hypertension Association
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Pulmonary Hypertension Association and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD lists autosomal dominant inheritance, meaning one changed copy of a gene is enough. It doesn't name a gene here.
Also known as: hypertensive pulmonary arterial disease; increased blood pressure in blood vessels of lungs; pah; primary pulmonary hypertension; pulmonary artery hypertension; pulmonary hypertensive arterial disease
Patient organizations
- Pulmonary Hypertension AssociationPulmonary arterial hypertension · United States
- American Lung AssociationPulmonary arterial hypertension · United States
- Phaware Global AssociationPulmonary arterial hypertension · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Explore research for Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Explore actively recruiting Pulmonary arterial hypertension studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Pulmonary arterial hypertension with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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