Pulmonary hypertension is abnormally high
Alternative Names
Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Sporadic primary pulmonary hypertension; Familial primary pulmonary hypertension; Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension; Primary pulmonary hypertension; PPH; Secondary pulmonary hypertension
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Normally, the left side of the heart produces a high blood pressure in order to pump blood to the body. The right side of the heart pumps blood through the lungs under much lower pressure.
Pulmonary hypertension is usually caused by a narrowing of the small arteries of the lung. This narrowing makes it harder for the right side of the heart to circulate the blood to the lungs. Over time, the right side of the heart may become enlarged and een fail (cor pulmonale).
Pumonary hypertension may be caused by:
- A genetic defect
- Any condition that causes chronic low oxygen levels in the blood
- Autoimmune diseases, such as
scleroderma - Certain diet medications
- Congestive
heart failure - History of a blood clot in the lung
-
HIV infection - Lung or heart valve disease
-
Obstructive sleep apnea
In many cases, the cause is unknown, in which case the condition is known as idiopathic pulmonary arteril hypertension (IPAH).
If it is caused by a known medicine or medical condition, it is called secondary pulmonary hypertension.
IPAH is rare. It affects more women than men.
