What is pulmonary hypertension?
Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) it is a conditionrare which causes high blood pressure in the blood vessels connecting the heart and lungs (pulmonary arteries).
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When a person develops PH, the walls of the pulmonary arteries become stiff and thickened or blocked by blood clots. This makes their ability to expand difficult; and trying to pump blood through these narrowed, narrowed, scarred, or blocked arteries puts increasing strain on the right heart, limiting its ability to pump blood.
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The essential task of pumping blood into the lungs to pick up oxygen that can then be circulated to every cell in the body thus becomes much more difficult.
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PH is a serious medical condition and should not be confused with hypertension (high blood pressure). It affects people's ability to carry out basic tasks and get around and can also affect their emotional well-being.
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People with PH often seem fine when they are not exerting themselves, but even a simple activity such as climbing stairs can trigger symptoms, including shortness of breath, chest pain or fatigue. PH can also cause loss of consciousness or edema (swelling) in the ankles, arms or abdomen.
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