Pulmonary Hypertension Management

Yashoda Hospital aims to provide quality healthcare services to the community. Our Centre for Lungs and Sleep Medicine possess state of the art technology for the diagnosis and treatment of lung (pulmonary) and sleep disorders.

For our respiratory services, critical care is always an integral part of our medical care. This is largely attributed to two significant components of critical care, which focus largely on the domain of pulmonologists, i.e., oxygen and assisted ventilation.

Pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine specialists at Yashoda Hospital are experts at solving the most severe and complex medical challenges faced by people with conditions that affect the lungs and breathing.

Yashoda hospital has a well-equipped Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) Laboratory, Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology Unit, Sleep Unit, Lung Cancer Clinic, as well as a vast array of other facilities that are available for patient care and research.

What is Pulmonary Hypertension Management?

Pulmonary hypertension is a form of high blood pressure that impacts the arteries in your lungs and the right side of your heart.

In one of the types of pulmonary hypertension, called pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), the blood vessels in your lungs are blocked, narrowed, or destroyed. The damaged blood vessels gradually slow down the blood flow through your lungs, and blood pressure in the lung arteries increases. But your heart may have to put in extra effort, which weakens the heart muscles and fails.

Pulmonary hypertension in some people slowly gets worse and can be life-threatening. Our doctors and staff will help you in reducing the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension.

Are You Eligible for Pulmonary Hypertension Management?

It is difficult to detect symptoms of pulmonary hypertension as they develop slowly. Symptoms begin to show as the disease progresses.

Pulmonary hypertension symptoms are:

• Shortness of breath (dyspnea), while exercising and maybe at rest
• Fatigue
• Dizziness or fainting spells (syncope)
• Chest pressure or pain
• Swelling in your legs, ankles, and eventually in your abdomen
• Bluish color to your lips and skin (cyanosis)
• Racing pulse or heart palpitations

How Do We Diagnose Pulmonary Hypertension?

As the medical condition advances, symptoms begin to demonstrate. Its symptoms are similar to those of other heart and lung conditions. The doctor will conduct a physical exam to determine your symptoms and signs. The doctor will ask questions about your family medical history and your medical history.

You will be ordered to go for some tests. Tests for pulmonary hypertension may include:

• Blood tests
• Chest X-ray
• Electrocardiogram (ECG).
• Echocardiogram
• Right heart catheterization

Other tests that further determine the cause of pulmonary hypertension:

• Computerized tomography (CT
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Pulmonary function test
• Polysomnogram
• Ventilation/perfusion (V/Q)
• Open-lung biopsy

How Do We Treat Pulmonary Hypertension?

To manage your health condition, your doctors will prescribe you some treatments. These treatments will help in improving your symptoms and slow the progress of pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension treatments are usually complex and require extensive follow-up care.

Medications

Some of the medications that your doctor may prescribe are:

• Blood vessel dilators (vasodilators)
• Guanylate cyclase (GSC) stimulators
• Endothelin receptor antagonists
• Sildenafil and tadalafil
• High-dose calcium channel blockers
• Warfarin
• Digoxin
• Diuretics

Oxygen therapy

The doctors may suggest you go undergo oxygen therapy so that you can breathe pure oxygen. This will alleviate your symptoms, especially if you live at a high altitude or have sleep apnea. Some people may have to continuously take oxygen therapy in their lifetime.

Surgery

Atrial septostomy: If you find that medicines don’t control your pulmonary hypertension, then you might need open-heart surgery. A surgeon makes an opening between the upper left and right chambers of your heart (atria) to diminish the pressure on the right side of your heart. Atrial septostomy can have resulted in some complications, including heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias).

Transplantation

For people at a young age who have idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, transplantation of a lung or heart-lung transplant might be an option. There is a risk of the body rejecting any newly transplanted organ and serious infection. The doctors may suggest you take immunosuppressant drugs for life to help reduce the chance of rejection.