IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PH...
Feel free to contact this website, or one of the other links on the "Services" page to
get more information, coping skills and to meet others who are living with PH.
Feel free to contact this website, or one of the other links on the "Services" page to
get more information, coping skills and to meet others who are living with PH.
Pulmonary hypertension is a rare blood vessel disorder of the lung in which the
pressure in the pulmonary artery (the blood vessel that leads from the heart to the
lungs) rises above normal levels and may become life threatening.
Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension include shortness of breath with minimal
exertion, fatigue, chest pain, dizzy spells and fainting. When pulmonary hypertension
occurs in the absence of a known cause, it is referred to as idiopathic pulmonary
arterial hypertension (IPAH). This term should not be construed to mean that
because it has a single name it is a single disease. There are likely many unknown
causes of IPAH. IPAH is extremely rare, occurring in about two persons per million
population per year..
pressure in the pulmonary artery (the blood vessel that leads from the heart to the
lungs) rises above normal levels and may become life threatening.
Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension include shortness of breath with minimal
exertion, fatigue, chest pain, dizzy spells and fainting. When pulmonary hypertension
occurs in the absence of a known cause, it is referred to as idiopathic pulmonary
arterial hypertension (IPAH). This term should not be construed to mean that
because it has a single name it is a single disease. There are likely many unknown
causes of IPAH. IPAH is extremely rare, occurring in about two persons per million
population per year..
Secondary pulmonary hypertension means the cause is known. A common cause
of secondary PH are the breathing disorders emphysema and bronchitis. Other
less frequent causes are the inflammatory or collagen vascular diseases such as
scleroderma, CREST syndrome or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Congenital heart diseases that cause shunting of extra blood through the lungs like
ventricular and atrial septal defects, chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (old
blood clots in the pulmonary artery), HIV infection, liver disease and diet drugs like
fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine are also causes of pulmonary hypertension.
of secondary PH are the breathing disorders emphysema and bronchitis. Other
less frequent causes are the inflammatory or collagen vascular diseases such as
scleroderma, CREST syndrome or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Congenital heart diseases that cause shunting of extra blood through the lungs like
ventricular and atrial septal defects, chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (old
blood clots in the pulmonary artery), HIV infection, liver disease and diet drugs like
fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine are also causes of pulmonary hypertension.
What is Pulmonary Hypertension?
The Northern Virginia Pulmonary Hypertension Support Group
The Northern Virginia
Group Meets Quarterly at
Inova Fairfax Hospital,
3300 Gallows Road in
Falls Church, Virginia
Group Meets Quarterly at
Inova Fairfax Hospital,
3300 Gallows Road in
Falls Church, Virginia
Our next scheduled
meeting will be held
January 9, 2010.
Our program will be
presented by a representative
of the TSA, on traveling with
medical devices.
meeting will be held
January 9, 2010.
Our program will be
presented by a representative
of the TSA, on traveling with
medical devices.
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