Can pulmonary hypertension cause headaches?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on May 06, 2025
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Pulmonary hypertension is a clinically complex disease with a wide range of causes. Consequently, the symptoms it presents in patients are numerous and complicated. Typically, patients with increasing pulmonary hypertension may experience varying degrees of shortness of breath after activity, chest tightness, dizziness, as well as chest pain, palpitations, and fainting. Generally, it does not cause headaches. However, many cases of pulmonary hypertension might also involve conditions such as hypertension, or other diseases that could lead to headaches. When pulmonary hypertension is worsening, it might coincide with an increase in blood pressure, which could also trigger headaches at that time. Therefore, it is important to differentiate in clinical practice; primary pulmonary hypertension generally does not cause headaches but can cause dizziness.

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Written by Zeng Wei Jie
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How to treat pulmonary hypertension?

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), depending on its various causes, has different treatments. The treatment commonly referred to as for pulmonary arterial hypertension specifically targets Group 1 PAH. This category of PAH has some targeted medications that are quite effective, such as prostacyclin medications, endothelin receptor antagonists, and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. These drugs target pulmonary artery pressure among other things. In addition to targeted treatments, anticoagulant therapy is usually necessary. When right heart failure occurs, diuretic therapy may be needed. In advanced stages, heart-lung or lung transplantation might be required.

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Written by Yuan Qing
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Does pulmonary hypertension require oxygen therapy?

Whether pulmonary arterial hypertension requires oxygen therapy primarily depends on the patient's blood oxygen saturation level at rest. Generally, it is recommended to measure the oxygen saturation for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Due to intrapulmonary shunting and shunting between the left and right heart during pulmonary arterial hypertension, arterial and venous blood mix directly, resulting in very low blood oxygen saturation in patients. Generally speaking, if the measured blood oxygen saturation at rest is below 90%, such patients often need oxygen therapy. Even if it does not drop below 90%, patients with moderate to severe pulmonary arterial hypertension also require oxygen therapy. Oxygen therapy can improve hypoxia, significantly dilating the pulmonary vessels and thus alleviating symptoms of high pulmonary artery pressure. It is very valuable for improving patient prognosis and survival time.

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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
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Is moderate pulmonary hypertension serious?

Pulmonary hypertension is a common clinical condition with complex etiology, which can be caused by various cardiac, pulmonary, or pulmonary vascular diseases. The current diagnostic criteria for pulmonary hypertension are an average pulmonary arterial pressure greater than 25 mmHg at sea level in a resting state, or greater than 30 mmHg during exercise, as measured via right heart catheterization. The severity of pulmonary hypertension can be categorized based on resting average pulmonary arterial pressure levels into mild (26 to 35 mmHg), moderate (36 to 45 mmHg), and severe (greater than 45 mmHg). Echocardiography is the most important non-invasive screening method for pulmonary hypertension. Assessing the severity of moderate pulmonary hypertension not only involves the measurement of average pulmonary arterial pressure but also necessitates identifying its etiology. Since pulmonary hypertension is a disease with a complex etiology, it is crucial to first clarify the cause, and then further determine the patient's cardiopulmonary function status, whether it is in a compensatory or decompensatory stage. Additionally, it is important to determine if there are any related complications, such as pulmonary hypertension stemming from lung-induced conditions. When patients exhibit complications like pulmonary encephalopathy, acid-base imbalance, electrolyte disturbances, arrhythmias, or even shock and gastrointestinal bleeding, the severity of pulmonary hypertension can be extremely severe.

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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
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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.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Can people with pulmonary hypertension run?

In cases where pulmonary hypertension is not too severe, it is appropriate to do some light running, such as jogging. However, in severe episodes of pulmonary hypertension, vigorous activity is strictly prohibited, and some patients are even advised against getting out of bed. Therefore, for patients with pulmonary hypertension, the ability to run mainly depends on their individual condition. For example, in the early stages where the disease is not very severe, and some patients may only experience symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue after activity without chest tightness, rapid breathing, or chest pain, these patients can opt for light jogging based on their own conditions.