Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a fatal condition, which aggravates with time. However, a few treatments can help relieve your symptoms. Though it requires some strict planning, you can find ways to make your life better. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a type of PH. When you have PAH, high pressure is put onto the arteries that take the blood from the heart to the lungs.
Understanding PAH
The high BP that you experience as a result of PAH is way different from the regular high BP. When you have PAH, the arteries become stiff, blocked, or narrow. This makes it difficult for the blood to pass through the arteries, causing an increase in the BP in the lungs. Due to this, the heart has to put in more effort to transport the blood via these blocked or narrow arteries. Over time, the muscles of the heart get weaker. Eventually, it can lead to heart failure.
Causes of PAH
- Genes
At times, doctors are unable to find the cause of high BP in the lungs. Such a condition is known as the idiopathic PH. Doctors believe that it is the genes that cause this PAH. There is an underlying condition that might be the cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension in all other cases.
Illnesses that result in high BP in the lungs include:
- HIV
HIV-PAH is a rare health complication and occurs in only one out of every 200 HIV patients. However, HIV infection only complicates the condition because of the presence of PAH.
- Congestive heart failure
PAH leads to mutations and inflammation in the cells surrounding the pulmonary arteries. Because of these changes, the blood vessels become narrow, and the blood flow is hampered. It obstructs the proper functioning of the heart. Now, since the heart has to work harder for blood transportation, it can lead to heart failure.
- Blood clots in the lungs
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a progressive and rare type of PH. It is caused by clots that do not dissolve in the lungs. As a result, these clots lead to scar-like tissues, which narrow or clog up the tiny blood vessels in the lungs and result in PAH.
- Liver cirrhosis
Liver cirrhosis or any other liver disease can lead to portal hypertension. It is an increase in the blood pressure experienced by the veins, which enter the liver. Because of the high BP, the blood might bypass the liver and not perform the designated work. Consequently, blood vessels might be exposed to toxic substances and damage the arteries. It can then lead to PAH.
Other common causes
The other common causes of pulmonary arterial hypertension include:
- Illegal consumption of drugs, such as methamphetamine or cocaine
- Rheumatoid arthritis, Scleroderma, lupus, and other autoimmune diseases
- Any heart defect that you may be born with
- Sleep apnea
- Lung diseases, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or pulmonary fibrosis
