Facts on Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is a rare lung disorder in which the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery rises far above normal levels, usually with no apparent reason.
Symptoms include chronic fatigue, shortness of breath (dyspnea), chest pain (angina), fainting, swollen ankles and legs (edema), and fluid in the abdomen (ascites). These are also symptoms for other diseases such as congestive heart failure; therefore, physicians should rule out other diseases before making a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.
Pulmonary hypertension may develop after pregnancy, hypothyroidism, pulmonary embolism, autoimmune disorders, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or result from the use of drugs such as appetite suppressants, oral contraceptives, and cocaine.
In 1998, there were 7,139 deaths and 174,854 hospital visits among persons with pulmonary hypertension.
Among 570,461 patients hospitalized with pulmonary hypertension as one of the diagnoses between 1995 and 1998, 61% were women and 37% were younger than age 65.
Content Courtesy : www.cdc.gov
^{The information provided herein is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. The information should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.}