How dangerous is pulmonary hypertension?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on November 20, 2024
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Pulmonary hypertension is itself a very complex disease, with many causative factors in clinical practice. In the early stages, patients may only exhibit symptoms such as shortness of breath after activity, difficulty breathing, and overall fatigue. However, as the condition gradually worsens, patients may experience chest tightness, rapid breathing, and even chest pain, fainting, or dizziness. If the patient also has right heart dysfunction, they may experience symptoms like swelling of the lower limbs, as well as diarrhea and abdominal distension. Therefore, if pulmonary hypertension patients are definitively diagnosed and do not receive timely appropriate treatment, the accompanying clinical symptoms may rapidly worsen. The patient's life may be at risk due to severe symptoms such as hypoxia or fainting.

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What to do with mild pulmonary hypertension?

Pulmonary artery hypertension is a relatively common disease in daily life. Based on the different pulmonary artery pressures, it can be divided into mild, moderate, and severe pulmonary artery hypertension. When the right heart catheter measures pulmonary artery pressure between 30 to 50 mmHg, this situation often belongs to mild pulmonary artery hypertension. So, what should one do if diagnosed with mild pulmonary artery hypertension? Generally, mild pulmonary artery hypertension is not serious and usually does not cause noticeable symptoms, so no special treatment is needed. However, having mild pulmonary artery hypertension does not mean it can be taken lightly. It is important to undergo regular examinations under the guidance of a doctor, identify the cause of the increased pulmonary artery pressure, and treat the symptoms timely.

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Early symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension

It depends on what disease causes pulmonary hypertension. There are several common causes of pulmonary hypertension, one of which is a pathological change in the pulmonary artery itself. Early on, there may be signs of mild increases in pulmonary artery pressure, possibly accompanied by slight right heart dysfunction. At this stage, symptoms such as mild hypotension and hypoxia might occur, manifesting as dizziness and fatigue. If the pulmonary hypertension is due to a disease of the lungs themselves, such as changes in the lung interstitium, then early symptoms of hypoxia will be more apparent, with chest tightness, slight breathing difficulties, and feelings of suffocation. If pulmonary hypertension is caused by conditions such as pulmonary embolism—specifically, an embolism in a smaller branch—the increase in pulmonary artery pressure may not be significant and will also be mild. This may be accompanied by a slight drop in blood pressure and mild breathing difficulties; however, because it is mild pulmonary hypertension, these symptoms are not severe and might include slight respiratory difficulty, mild chest tightness, shortness of breath, and mild dizziness. Therefore, early symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are typically not pronounced and generally do not attract special attention from patients.

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Mild pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is a relatively common disease in daily life. Many patients, when they go to the hospital for examination, often see reports from cardiac ultrasound indicating mild pulmonary hypertension, moderate pulmonary hypertension, or non-severe pulmonary hypertension. So, what are the criteria for mild pulmonary hypertension? Generally, pulmonary artery pressure is measured using right heart catheterization or cardiac ultrasound. If the pressure is between 30 to 50 mmHg, this is often considered mild pulmonary hypertension. Generally, the prognosis for mild pulmonary hypertension is quite good, typically not producing noticeable symptoms or affecting health.

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Written by Li Qiang
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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.

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The harms of pulmonary arterial hypertension during pregnancy

Pulmonary hypertension is categorized into mild, moderate, and severe stages. If it is mild pulmonary hypertension, pregnancy generally does not have a major impact. However, for those with moderate or especially severe pulmonary hypertension, pregnancy can be very dangerous for both the mother and the fetus. As the fetus grows, pulmonary hypertension can lead to ischemia and hypoxia, which can worsen over time. The mother is likely to develop symptoms of acute heart failure, severely endangering her life. Additionally, it can cause intrauterine hypoxia for the fetus, leading to miscarriage or stillbirth. Therefore, pregnancy is not recommended for patients with moderate, and particularly severe, pulmonary hypertension.