Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension

Written by Zeng Wei Jie
Cardiology
Updated on September 27, 2024
00:00
00:00

The symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension are varied. In the early stages when pulmonary cardiac function is compensatory, the symptoms mainly include cough, phlegm, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. Later, when pulmonary cardiac function becomes decompensated, symptoms of respiratory failure and right heart failure may occur. In cases of right heart failure, symptoms mainly manifest as systemic circulatory congestion, including visceral nausea, vomiting, palpitations, and pronounced shortness of breath. In respiratory failure, particularly pulmonary hypertension caused by pulmonary heart disease, symptoms like drowsiness, confusion, and gaze fixation, which are typical of pulmonary encephalopathy, may occur. Therefore, the symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension are diverse.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
1min 34sec home-news-image

Pulmonary hypertension is treated by which department?

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a common clinical condition with complex causes, and depending on the cause, patients may visit different departments. The common causes of pulmonary arterial hypertension include the following. The first type is venous pulmonary hypertension, which is caused by diseases of the left heart system. Patients with this condition need to visit the department of cardiology, mainly to control heart failure. The second type is chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The main reasons include thromboembolism in the proximal or distal pulmonary arteries, or due to tumors, parasites, foreign bodies, etc., leading to pulmonary embolism. Diseases of this type require visits to the respiratory department. Additionally, chronic pulmonary heart disease, such as heart failure caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, sleep breathing disorders, and hypoventilation lesions, also lead to pulmonary arterial hypertension and should be treated in the respiratory department. Furthermore, some rheumatic immune diseases and congenital heart diseases can also cause pulmonary arterial hypertension. As pulmonary arterial hypertension has gradually received more attention, some hospitals have established specialized outpatient clinics for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zeng Wei Jie
Cardiology
55sec home-news-image

Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension

The symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension are varied. In the early stages when pulmonary cardiac function is compensatory, the symptoms mainly include cough, phlegm, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. Later, when pulmonary cardiac function becomes decompensated, symptoms of respiratory failure and right heart failure may occur. In cases of right heart failure, symptoms mainly manifest as systemic circulatory congestion, including visceral nausea, vomiting, palpitations, and pronounced shortness of breath. In respiratory failure, particularly pulmonary hypertension caused by pulmonary heart disease, symptoms like drowsiness, confusion, and gaze fixation, which are typical of pulmonary encephalopathy, may occur. Therefore, the symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension are diverse.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Qiang
Intensive Care Unit
1min 15sec home-news-image

Is pulmonary hypertension serious?

Whether pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is serious depends on the cause and the severity of the PAH. It is generally categorized into mild, moderate, and severe. If the PAH is caused by diseases such as pulmonary embolism and is severe, this condition is very serious and may lead to sudden death. If it is chronic pulmonary arterial hypertension with also a severe degree and lasts for a long time, it can lead to right heart failure, and subsequently right heart failure may cause left heart failure, which is also a very serious issue. If the pulmonary hypertension is a reversible, mild condition, such as due to embolism in the pulmonary artery branches which resolves after the embolism is cleared, then the PAH can easily recover, and in this case, it is not serious. However, if it is caused by chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or pulmonary interstitial fibrosis leading to chronic pulmonary hypertension, it is quite serious because it is a progressively worsening disease. The pulmonary artery pressure will not decrease, and over time it will gradually worsen, eventually leading to heart failure.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
44sec home-news-image

Obvious symptoms of pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is a relatively common disease in everyday life. Based on the causes of pulmonary hypertension, it can be divided into two categories: primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension. Regardless of the type of pulmonary hypertension, patients often exhibit certain symptoms, such as chest tightness and shortness of breath, which are the most common symptoms. In severe cases, some patients may even experience syncope. When pulmonary hypertension affects the heart, causing right ventricular enlargement, patients often show signs of right heart failure, such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, lower limb edema, and gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and abdominal distension.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
1min 19sec home-news-image

Can pulmonary hypertension cause coughing?

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a commonly seen clinical condition with complex causes, which may arise from various cardiac, pulmonary, and pulmonary vascular diseases. When pulmonary arterial hypertension occurs, due to increased resistance in the pulmonary circulation, the load on the right heart will increase, eventually leading to right heart failure, thus causing a series of clinical manifestations. In the early stages, pulmonary arterial hypertension may not present with obvious symptoms, and discomfort may be felt during intense exercise, with most patients showing shortness of breath after activity. During the compensatory period of pulmonary heart function, symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, and decreased endurance may occur during activities, and acute infections can also exacerbate these conditions, potentially causing mild chest pain or hemoptysis. Some patients may exhibit signs of heart dysfunction, like coughing and expectorating phlegm.