Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PULL-mo-na-ree hi-per-TEN-shun) or PAH is a group of chronic, progressive, and fatal diseases of the small arterial blood vessels of the pulmonary circulation. PAH is a subset of pulmonary hypertension, which encompasses diseases that affect the pulmonary artery tree and are not due to other causes (lung disease or left heart disease).
In pulmonary arterial hypertension, high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries damages the lungs and heart. If left untreated, PAH quickly becomes life threatening. While no cure yet exists, treatment can slow disease progression.
The pulmonary arteries carry blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood picks up oxygen to carry to the rest of the body. Just as high blood pressure in the rest of the body damages blood vessels and organs, the high pressure of PAH damages the pulmonary arteries and the tissues of the heart and lungs.
Symptoms of PAH include shortness of breath with minimal exertion, fatigue, chest pain, dizzy spells, fainting, swelling of the ankles, feet, and legs, and a racing pulse. If you experience any of these symptoms, see your health care professional immediately for an accurate diagnosis and treatment to relieve your symptoms.
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