Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension?
The name pulmonary means having to do with lungs, and hypertension means high blood pressure.
It is a rare lung disorder in which the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery rises far above normal levels. At the same time as the pressure increases, the walls of the blood vessels (pulmonary arteries) become thicker. This makes it harder for the right ventricle of the heart to pump blood through the lungs.
The right ventricle is a muscle and like any other muscle in the body, if it is worked harder it becomes bigger. This is often referred to as an enlarged heart. However, if the heart has to work harder than usual over a period of time, it begins to work less effectively.
It can affect people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.
One thing that most types of PAH have in common is that they are often not recognized until they are quite advanced. As a result, many people may have PH without knowing it—so increased awareness and earlier diagnosis lead to earlier treatment.
To find out more about PAH visit our FAQ’s page.