Pulmonary Hypertension
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Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is high blood pressure in the arteries of your lungs. It's a serious condition that can make it difficult for blood to flow through your lungs.
The pressure builds and blood backs up, making the heart work harder trying to force the blood forward. If the pressure is high enough, eventually the heart can't keep up, and less blood can circulate through the lungs to pick up oxygen. Over time, PAH will get worse, and it may limit your physical activities.
PAH is a rare disease, and not all causes are known. Although anyone can develop PAH, it affects almost four times as many women as men.
The symptoms of PAH are similar to those of other heart and lung conditions and include:
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness and/or fainting
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Swollen ankles, arms or legs
- Feeling tired or worn out
- Swollen abdomen
- Rapid, hard, or irregular heartbeat
Mercy offers the very latest in diagnostics and medical therapies for treating PAH. Our cardiologists and other specialists have an in-depth understanding of lung and circulation problems. And you can rest assured knowing Mercy will treat you as a whole person using a customized approach.
Even with pulmonary hypertension, you can still live an active, fulfilling life. You can count on our heart care team to help you achieve it.
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