By: Kathy Hubbard
Recently, I was asked what I know about pulmonary hypertension and before I answered, “nothing,” I asked my good friend Google what it was. Medlineplus.gov, gave me a good description. They say that it is a serious condition that develops when the blood pressure in your lungs is higher than normal.
“Your heart pumps blood to your lungs so they can add oxygen to the blood. The blood goes back to your heart. From there, it travels to the rest of your body so that your tissues can get the oxygen that they need.
“The blood moves from your heart to your lungs through blood vessels called pulmonary arteries. If the pulmonary arteries become damaged, narrowed, or blocked, the blood does not flow through them as well. This can increase the blood pressure in the arteries and cause pulmonary hypertension,” they explain.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is sorted into five groups depending on the cause. Cleveland Clinic explains, Group 1: Tissue damage in your pulmonary arteries (called pulmonary arterial hypertension or PAH); Group 2: Problems with heart function, specifically on the left side, is the most common cause; Group 3: Problems with lung function; Group 4: Blockages in your pulmonary arteries, and Group 5: Underlying conditions that are not fully understood by experts.
Regardless of which group causes PH the symptoms are mostly similar and, according to Mayo Clinic, start slowly. “You may not notice them for months or even years. Symptoms get worse as the disease continues. They include shortness of breath that may first start during exercise and eventually happen at rest. Having blue or gray skin, which depending on skin color may be harder or easier to see.”
Other symptoms are chest pressure or pain; dizziness or fainting; loss of appetite, fast pulse or pounding heartbeat; fatigue, and swelling in the ankles, legs and belly areas. Since these symptoms can be caused by a whole lot of other health conditions, you’ll want to talk to your primary care provider for an accurate diagnosis.
Cleveland Clinic says that symptoms can be put into four functional classes based on how they affect your ability to handle daily activities. “Class 1: You don’t have symptoms; Class 2: You feel some symptoms from ordinary activity like cleaning your house or shopping. But you feel fine when you’re resting. Class 3: It’s much harder to do normal tasks because you feel very tired or short of breath. But you still feel fine when resting, and Class 4: You have symptoms even when you’re resting. The symptoms get worse when you try to move around at all.”
Mayo Clinic says that pulmonary hypertension is typically seen in people ages thirty to sixty. You’re at higher risk if there’s a family history of the condition; you’re overweight; you smoke; if you have a blood-clotting disorder or a family history of blood clots in the lungs; a history of asbestos exposure; have a heart condition present at birth; live at an altitude of 8,000 feet or
higher; use some medicines, including those used for weight loss, and partake in illicit drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine.
“Pulmonary hypertension can cause serious problems in your body including anemia; abnormal heart rhythms; blood clots in your pulmonary arteries; pericardial effusion (buildup of fluid in the space around your heart); pregnancy complications, and right-sided heart failure. Untreated PH is life-threatening. It’s important to get a diagnosis and start treatment as early as possible,” Cleveland Clinic says.
Diagnosis involves a physical examination and diagnostic imaging. As I already said, it’s not easy to diagnose and most cases of pulmonary hypertension cannot be cured. Treatment, however, can ease your symptoms, improve your quality of life and slow the disease’s progression. To do that some medications, procedures or surgeries will be employed to treat PH directly or target its cause. Making some lifestyle changes such as your diet and exercise regime may help as well.
Cleveland Clinic noted, “Learning you have pulmonary hypertension may make you feel scared, uncertain or overwhelmed. There’s a lot to learn. And starting new treatments or making changes in your daily life isn’t always easy. But your healthcare provider is there to guide and support you. Accept offers of help from family or friends to lighten your load. It’s okay to ask for help, too.”
Kathy Hubbard was a charter member of Bonner General Health Foundation. She can be reached at [email protected]. This article was written for publication in the Bonner County Daily Bee on November 26, 2025.