Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension

Russia – Dr. Denis Sokolov, a cardiologist, indicates that shortness of breath at rest may indicate high pulmonary blood pressure, one of the serious diseases that is difficult to diagnose in the initial stages.

He said in an interview with the newspaper “Izvestia”: “Pulmonary hypertension is a group of diseases characterized by increased pulmonary artery pressure. The origin of the disease is complex, so it is difficult to diagnose and treat, and if its diagnosis and timely treatment are delayed, it develops and leads to serious complications. According to statistics, the average life expectancy of a patient without treatment does not exceed two to two and a half years. When the disease is discovered in the late stages, in 50 percent of cases it leads to death within five years following the appearance of this type of high blood pressure.

According to him, there are many risk factors that increase the probability of contracting this disease. Women are more susceptible to this disease than men, age from 20 to 40 years, the presence of infectious diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis, and high blood pressure in the vein. Portal, heart disease, conditions associated with high arterial blood pressure, and taking medications (oral contraceptives, antidepressants) are all risk factors.

He says: The following symptoms are attributed to the disease:

– Shortness of breath that occurs initially with increased physical activity, and then during rest

– Constant feeling of fatigue

– An annoying and persistent cough

– Frequent dizziness and fainting

“In the late stages of the disease, hemoptysis, severe swelling of the legs, and abdominal ascites are observed – the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity.”

This disease can lead to complications, such as chronic heart failure, pulmonary embolism, and blood clots, which lead to death.

Sokolov says: “We must remember that the causes of the disease are different, so when symptoms appear, a doctor must be consulted to diagnose the cause and treat it early.”

Source: “Izvestia” newspaper