If you have pulmonary hypertension (PH), the blood pressure in your lungs is too high. Its early symptoms—fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain—are similar to those of other conditions, so an accurate diagnosis is important. At our Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic, we offer advanced testing and treatment options tailored to your needs.
Causes of Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is a broad term that refers to high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. High pulmonary artery pressure can occur on its own, but it's often caused by conditions including:
- Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma
- Blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
- Familial (genetic) heart disease
- Chronic lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema or sleep apnea
- Congenital heart disease
- Liver disease
- HIV
- Illicit drug use
- Left-sided heart disease
- Sickle cell anemia
What Are Pulmonary Hypertension Symptoms?
Pulmonary arteries carry blood from your heart to your lungs, where it picks up oxygen. When blood pressure builds up in the lungs, blood can't flow as well as it should. Your heart has to work harder, leading to weakness and damage to the heart and lungs. The rest of your body may not receive the oxygen-rich blood it needs to function properly.
People with pulmonary hypertension may experience symptoms, such as:
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Light-headedness/fainting
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Swelling of the feet, ankles or abdomen
Untreated, pulmonary hypertension can lead to other health problems, such as:
- Bleeding in the lungs
- Blood clots in the lungs
- Fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion)
- Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Lack of red blood cells (anemia)
- Liver damage, including scarring (cirrhosis)
- Pregnancy complications that are life-threatening to mother and baby
- Right-sided heart failure
Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic: Why Choose Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health?
Our Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic is one of the most established subspecialty clinics within The Heart Group of Lancaster General Health. As a regional referral site for PH care, we use our expertise to support colleagues and patients in four surrounding states.
You benefit from:
- Skilled expertise: Your team includes doctors and nurse practitioners from The Heart Group and Lancaster General Health Physicians Cardiothoracic Surgery. They are board-certified, fellowship-trained leaders in cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, with the skill and experience to treat even the most complex issues.
- Advanced diagnostics: We access state-of-the art heart assessment tools, so you can count on us to carefully choose the right heart imaging and tests to pinpoint the exact cause of your symptoms and give you a precise diagnosis.
- One of the only hybrid operating rooms (OR) in the region: Our interventional cardiologists and surgeons operate together in a state-of-the-art hybrid operating room at Lancaster General Hospital. Hybrid ORs have the technology and equipment to perform minimally invasive and open-heart surgeries at the same time.
- Advanced research: As part of an academic medical center, our specialists are also researchers. Our active participation in clinical trials and research for pulmonary hypertension therapies gives our patients access to leading treatments before they’re widely available.
Pulmonary Hypertension Treatments We Offer
Treatment for pulmonary hypertension focuses on helping you feel better and slowing progression of the disease.
If an underlying condition is impacting your heart and lung health and causing PH, treating that condition is critical. We may also recommend cardiac and vascular rehab to help you preserve energy and rebuild strength.
Medications
Medications for PH can be taken by mouth, inhaled or received intravenously (IV). They work to reduce blood pressure in your lungs and improve heart function.
Depending on the type and severity of pulmonary hypertension you have, our specialists may recommend:
- Blood thinners (anticoagulants) to reduce your risk of blood clots
- Diuretics to reduce fluid buildup in your body
- Medications to control your heart rate and relax blood vessels
- Oxygen therapy to help improve your breathing
Surgical Procedures
In some cases, we use surgery to help lower blood pressure in your heart or pulmonary artery.
If you have very poor heart or lung function, we may perform:
- Thromboendarterectomy (pulmonary thromboendarterectomy) to remove blood clots from blood vessels in the lungs
- Heart transplant or lung transplant from a healthy donor organ
Contact Us
To learn more about our heart and vascular care, call 717-544-8300.