Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Overview

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Pulmonary arterial hypertension ( PAH ) occurs when the blood pressure of the pulmonary artery increases to dangerous levels. Also known as primary pulmonary hypertension ( PPH ) in the older medical journals, pulmonary arterial hypertension is considered a rare disorder that is difficult to treat and that few patients survive. The condition causes the blood vessels located in the lungs to tighten and stiffen, restricting the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs. Now the heart must work harder to pump blood into the lungs for oxygenation. The process continues, overworking the heart, until the disease causes heart failure.

The most common symptom of pulmonary arterial hypertension is a shortness of breath or breathing difficulty. This is generally followed by chest pain, persistent cough, fatigue, swelling in the ankles or feet, and dizzy spells. Individuals may also experience heart palpitations or a racing pulse. As the condition worsens, the individual will begin to feel weak as the heart strains to pump blood correctly. In the later stages of the disorder, the patient may have difficulty moving to the point where they become bedridden or require mechanical assistance to perform minimal tasks.

This disorder is misdiagnosed frequently and is often undetected until the disorder reaches the final stages. A diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension is usually based on the medical history of the patient coupled with a battery of tests to eliminate any other disorders from consideration. Associations have been made between the condition and the use of diet drugs such as Pondimin, Redux, Ephedra, and Phenylpropanolamine, causing some of the diet medications to be taken off of the market. Individuals who have taken one of these drugs have a statistically higher risk of developing pulmonary arterial hypertension, with the symptoms appearing years after taking the medications.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is considered incurable and has a very poor survival rate. The treatments for the condition are used to alleviate the symptoms and make the patient more comfortable. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a chronic disease that is notoriously difficult to treat effectively, but many new advances have been made in recent years to prolong the survival of individuals diagnosed with the condition. Currently, new drug therapies, new medical techniques, and better diagnostic tests are being tested to improve the care given to people with this deadly disease. The implementation of some of these new techniques has lengthened the average survival rate of individuals affected by pulmonary arterial hypertension by several years.

Experts have estimated that there are close to 20,000 individuals diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension in the United States, with an average of 300 cases added to the count annually. Due to the high rate of misdiagnosis for the disease and the length of time between contracting the disease and the appearance of symptoms, many experts believe that there could be over 100,000 people living with pulmonary arterial hypertension in the United States that have not been diagnosed with the condition. With the availability of some newer treatments and improved medical techniques, some of the individuals living with pulmonary arterial hypertension will be able to effectively manage their symptoms for 15 years or more.

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Resources

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - Pulmonary arterial hypertension ( PAH ) occurs when the blood pressure of the pulmonary artery increases to dangerous levels. Also known as primary pulmonary hypertension ( PPH ) in the older medical journals, pulmonary arterial hypertension is considered a rare disorder that is difficult to treat and that few patients survive …

Symptoms of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - When reviewing the medical history of patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, physicians find that the symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension manifest gradually. In some cases, symptoms may take up to ten years to appear ...

Diagnosis of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - A diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension is only arrived at after a series of tests are performed to ensure that pulmonary arterial hypertension, and not some other disorder, is responsible for the symptoms observed. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is rarely detected while it is still in the early stages ...

Causes of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - There are many causes of pulmonary arterial hypertension, and not all of them are known. Because incidences of pulmonary arterial hypertension, also known as primary pulmonary hypertension ( PPH ), are so low, it is difficult to learn about the disease through clinical means ...

Treatments for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - Pulmonary arterial hypertension treatments are much more effective when the condition is diagnosed early. Because of the difficulty of treating patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, doctors need to carefully tailor each treatment program to the needs of the individual. Treating this condition requires numerous follow-ups to determine the best course of treatment, and treatments may be adjusted if they become ineffective ...

Complications of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - Also known as primary pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary arterial hypertension can develop many complications, some life-threatening. One dangerous complication that may be experienced by individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension is cor pulmonale, which is a condition in which the right ventricle of the heart enlarges and, in time, fails ...

Other Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Resources

Checkup: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

National Institutes of Health: What Is Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension?

Pulmonary Hypertension Association: Website for the Organization

PH Central: Website for patients, caregivers and professionals

Do I have a Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Lawsuit?

The Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus exclusively on the representation of plaintiffs in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) and Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (IPAH) lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension cases in all 50 states.

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