Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the arteries of your lungs. It happens when the lung's tiny arteries narrow or become blocked. To keep blood flowing through these narrowed blood vessels, pressure increases in the arteries, which makes the lower right chamber (right ventricle) of your heart work harder. Eventually your heart begins to weaken and fail. Pulmonary hypertension can happen by itself. But it is often caused by an existing disease. It is a rare condition that mostly affects women in their 30s or 40s. Scientists think the hormone estrogen may play a role in the onset of pulmonary hypertension. Treatments can reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Signs and SymptomsThe most common symptom of pulmonary hypertension is shortness of breath, first when you exercise and later while at rest. Other symptoms include:
What Causes It?Sometimes there is no known cause. In that case, the condition is called idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. If another medical condition is causing the problem, it is called secondary pulmonary hypertension. Conditions that can lead to pulmonary hypertension include:
What to Expect at Your Doctor's OfficeYour doctor will give you a thorough examination and order laboratory tests to diagnose your condition. You may have an x-ray or electrocardiogram (ECG). Other tests may include an echocardiogram, heart catheterization, lung scan, computerized tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Treatment OptionsIf you have pulmonary hypertension because of another condition, that condition must be treated. You should avoid too much physical stress or exercise, although mild, regular exercise may help reduce symptoms like shortness of breath. Ask your doctor to create an exercise plan for you. If your disease has progressed, your doctor may recommend you have a lung or heart transplant. Drug TherapiesSome treatments your doctor may use include:
Complementary and Alternative TherapiesIf you have pulmonary hypertension, you should be under a conventional medical doctor's care. Make sure your doctor knows about any herbs or supplements you may be thinking about using. DO NOT use complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) by themselves to treat pulmonary hypertension, unless directed to do so by your doctor. NutritionWhile none of these supplements specifically treats pulmonary hypertension, they may help heart health and function.
HerbsHerbs are a way to strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your doctor to diagnose your problem before starting treatment. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, and teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 to 4 cups per day. You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted. DO NOT take these herbs without your doctor's supervision. Many interact with each other and with other prescription medications. And they can cause unwanted side effects. These herbs have not been studied specifically for pulmonary hypertension.
HomeopathyHomeopathy may be helpful when used along with conventional medical treatment. Physical MedicineCastor oil pack. Apply oil to a clean, soft cloth, place on chest and cover with plastic wrap. Place a heat source over the pack and let sit for 30 to 60 minutes. Use for 3 consecutive days, take 1 to 2 days off, and then repeat 3-day cycle. Contrast hydrotherapy. Alternate hot and cold applications to the chest. Alternate 3 minutes hot with 1 minute cold. Repeat 3 times to complete 1 set. Do 2 to 3 sets per day. Steams. Using 3 to 6 drops of essential oils in a humidifier, vaporizer, atomizer, or warm bath may help reduce shortness of breath and improve circulation. Consider eucalyptus, rosemary, thyme, or lavender. AcupunctureAcupuncture may help improve circulation. Following UpPulmonary hypertension gets worse over time, and it may lead to heart failure of other heart complications. It is important to work closely with your doctor to treat your symptoms and adjust your medication as needed. Special ConsiderationsFor the most part, women who have primary pulmonary hypertension should not get pregnant because the condition is dangerous for both mother and baby. Supporting ResearchBatyraliev LI, Makhmutkhodzhaev SA, Ecinci E, et al. Pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure. Part VI. Classification and pathomorphology of primary pulmonary arterial hypertension. Kardiologiia. 2007;47(1):75-81. Bech-Hanssen O, Karason K, Rundqvist B, Bollano E, Lindgren F, Selimovic N. Can pulmonary hypertension and increased pulmonary vascular resistance be ruled in and ruled out by echocardiography? J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2013;26(5):469-78. Bhat R, Salas AA, Foster C, Carlo WA, Ambalavannan N. Prospective analysis of pulmonary hypertension in extremely low birth weight infants. Pediatrics. 2012;129(3):e682-9. Chen ZY, Peng C, Jiao R, Wong YM, Yang N, Huang Y. Anti-hypertensive nutraceuticals and functional foods. J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Jun 10;57(11):4485-99. Review. Coulden R. State-of-the-art imaging techniques in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2006;3(7):577-83. El Bardai S, Morel N, Wibo M, et al. The vasorelaxant activity of marrubenol and marrubiin from Marrubium vulgare. Planta Med. 2003;69(1):75-77. Gaine SP, Orens JB. Lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2001;22(5):533-40. Gerges M, Gerges C, Pistritto AM, et al. Pulmonary hypertension in heart failure. Epidemiology, right ventricular function, and survival. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2015;192(10):1234-46. Houston MC. Treatment of hypertension with nutraceuticals, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2007 Jul;5(4):681-91. Kassab R, Hamdan R, El AB, Azar R, Salame E. Beneficial effect of sildenafil following surgery for mitral stenosis complicated by pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension: report of two cases. Ann Cardiol Angeiol. 2006;55(5):286-90. Kreitner KF. Noninvasive imaging of pulmonary hypertension. Semin respir Crit Care Med. 2014;35(1):99-111. Mair KM, Wright AF, Duggan N, et al. Sex-dependent influence of endogenous estrogen in pulmonary hypertension. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2014;190(4):456-67. Orr R, Smith LJ, Cuttica MJ. Pulmonary hypertension in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2012;18(2):138-43. Porta N, Steinhorn R. Pulmonary vasodilator therapy in the NICU: Inhaled nitric oxide, sildenafil, and other pulmonary vasodilating agents. Clinics in Perinatology. 2012;39(1). Ried K, Frank OR, Stocks NP, Fakler P, Sullivan T. Effect of garlic on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2008 Jun 16;8:13. Review. Said SI. Mediators and modulators of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2006;291(4):L547-58. Smith HA, Canter JA, Christian KG, et al. Nitric oxide precursors and congenital heart surgery: a randomized controlled trial of oral citrulline. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2006;132:58-65. Suzuki YJ, Steinhorn RH, Gladwin MT. Antioxidant therapy for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2013;18(14):1723-6. Voelkel NF, Bogaard HJ, Husseini Al, Farkas L, Gomez-Arroyo J, Natarajan R. Antioxidants for the treatment of patients with severe angioproliferative pulmonary hypertension. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2013;18(14):1810-7. Wirth G, Bruggermann K, Bostel T, Mayer E, Duber C, Kreitner KF. Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) - potential role of multidetector-row CT (MD-CT) and MR imagining in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the disease. Rofo. 2014;186(8):751-61. Zagolin BM, Wainstein GE, Uriarte GP. 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Review Date:
4/27/2016 Reviewed By: Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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