All about Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is defined as the persistent high blood pressure occurring in the pulmonary artery. While in normal condition the resting pulmonary rate count is nearly 14 mmHg, it can increase up to 25 mmHg or more when an individual is suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is a life-threatening condition. Although there is treatment for this condition, but there is no definitive cure. Let us explore few facts about pulmonary arterial hypertension, or PAH in short.
The Complications
Transmission of oxygen-mixed blood from right ventricle to small arteries becomes possible with the help of pulmonary arteries. When someone suffers from pulmonary arterial hypertension, the muscles of the pulmonary arteries become tightened up, which eventually convert the internal space narrower. In time, smaller blood clots may block the arterial passage, leading to right heart failure syndrome. This is one of the most common causes of mortality among people suffering from PAH.
Risk Factors
There are certain risk factors that put an individual at higher risk for developing pulmonary arterial hypertension. Prolonged use of appetite suppressants, amphetamines or cocaine may increase the risk quite significantly. HIV infection or AIDS may heighten the vulnerability towards developing PAH. Apart from that, liver diseases and connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma can pose serious threat. However, doctors have not yet found the exact causes behind the development of PAH and why some individuals are at higher risk than others.
Signs & Symptoms
Shortness of breath is one of the most common symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Besides that, other common symptoms may include fatigue, fainting, bluish skin and lips, dizziness, palpitations, racing heart and chest pain. As the disease progresses, the pumping function of the heart becomes weaker and the energy level gets reduced. At the advanced level, the patient will experience difficulty in performing simple activity or movement. In addition, symptoms may become prevalent even when the patient is on rest. At the worst end, he may turn out to be bedridden.
Treatment
Not all people suffering from PAH become sick. In fact, still there are lots of other options to keep an individual steady and active, such as, maintaining healthy lifestyle and healthy diet, avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, doing regular exercise, etc. Practicing relaxation technique in combination with stress reduction therapy can offer good result. Walking is considered as one of the most effective exercises among all for the people suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The objective of the treatment involves treating the underlying causes, alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life, slowing the formation of blood clot and smooth muscle cell, and increasing oxygenated blood supply. Typically, there are three modes of treatment. These are - medications, oxygen supply, and lung transplantation. Other possible advanced level treatments may involve stem cell transplantation in combination with gene and DNA therapy in near future.
