Pulminary Hyper Tension

By Dylan Johns, Sam Reid and Tasha Vandenbrink

What is it?

• Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a disease where you have abnormally high blood pressure in the blood vessels of your lungs (pulmonary arteries).

In PH, the pulmonary arteries become narrowed, and can be scarred to the point of being closed. PH is a serious illness, and can be life-threatening.

What effect does this have?

• It limits the flow of oxygen through the arteries, which creates pressure.

• Not enough blood flows to the lungs to pick up the oxygen

Causes

• It can be inherited• Appetite suppressants (for weight loss)• History of Pulmonary Embolism (Blood clot in

the Lung)• Infection with HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis B or C

Symptoms

• Shortness of Breath• Tiredness• Chest pain, a heaviness, pressure or tightness

in the centre of the chest (angina)• Feeling faint or lightheaded (palpitations)• Swelling of feet and ankles (and possibly

swelling of belly/abdomen)

How common is it/where is it affected

• Uncommon• Arteries in the lungs• Lungs in general

Treatment/chance of recovery?

• No known cure• Goal to control symptoms, damage control(MEDS)Ambrisentan BosentanCalcium channel blockersLong term outlook has been poor, but new

treatments may lead to better results.

Bibliography

• http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/a-z/hypertension-hypertension/index_e.php

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001171/

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_hypertension