Pulmonary hypertension is high pressure inside the pulmonary arteries, which are the vessels carrying blood from the right-hand side of the heart to the lungs.
It is a serious medical condition as it results in damage to the right-hand side of the heart (see box, left, for a full explanation of what happens), making the heart less efficient at pumping blood around the body and getting oxygen to the muscles. This leads to symptoms such as:
See Pulmonary hypertension – Symptoms for more.
If it is not treated, pulmonary hypertension can cause heart failure, which is when the heart struggles to pump enough blood around the body. This can be fatal.
How common is pulmonary hypertension?
There are many different types of pulmonary hypertension and some are associated with underlying health conditions, particularly conditions affecting the heart or lungs. Pulmonary hypertension may be more common in people with:
Generally, pulmonary hypertension can affect people of almost any age, although some types are more common in young women and some in people aged over 40.
One type of pulmonary hypertension, called pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is more common in women and affects two to four people in every million each year. It is estimated that there are nearly 2,200 adults in England and Wales with PAH.
For more information on the different types of pulmonary hypertension and why they occur, see Pulmonary hypertension – Causes.
Outlook
Pulmonary hypertension is a serious condition that usually gets progressively worse. There may be a delay in getting a diagnosis, as the symptoms can be quite general (see Pulmonary hypertension – Diagnosis).
The symptoms, such as breathlessness, can significantly affect your quality of life as you may be unable to continue with your regular activities. It is important that you start treatment as soon as possible to improve your symptoms.
If you already have an underlying condition which is causing your pulmonary hypertension, this should be treated first. In some cases this can prevent permanent damage to your pulmonary arteries.
In the 1980s people lived for an average of less than three years after being diagnosed with PAH. Now, new medicines mean that people may be able to survive longer. One study found that around two-thirds of people lived longer than five years after their diagnosis.
The course of the disease will depend on how quickly your condition is diagnosed, how advanced your symptoms are and whether you have an underlying health condition.
