Pulmonary Hypertension

Expert Pulmonary Hypertension Care

High blood pressure, or hypertension, can affect any blood vessels in your body. When it affects the arteries in your lungs, it’s known as pulmonary hypertension. This condition requires expertise and specialized care. You’ll find both at Emory Healthcare.

Why Choose Emory Healthcare?

The pulmonology team at Emory Healthcare includes highly skilled doctors with expertise in all types of lung conditions. When you entrust Emory with your care, you get the latest diagnostic tests and treatments from experts who prioritize your needs and well-being.

Many of our doctors are also faculty members at Emory University School of Medicine. They’re actively involved in research to improve pulmonary hypertension and other lung conditions. Because we have more than 70 other medical specialties, all the expertise you might require is here at Emory.

About Pulmonary Hypertension

When blood pressure in your lungs’ arteries is high, your heart must work harder to get blood to your lungs. The harder your heart works, the more difficult it may be to breathe. Over time, your heart may become weaker, too.

We classify pulmonary hypertension into one of five groups based on its cause:

  • Group 1 results from abnormal growth of the inner and middle layers of the arteries in the lungs leading to obstruction of blood flow.  This makes the right side of the heart have to work harder to try to pump the blood through the lungs to the left side of the heart.  This condition can occur on its own but sometimes is related to other conditions such as connective tissues disease such as scleroderma or lupus, liver disease, congenital heart disease, or exposure to some drugs.
  • Group 2 is related to problems with the left side of the heart if from weakness, stiffening, or problems with the valves. This is the most common form of pulmonary hypertension.
  • Group 3 is linked to other lungs diseases such as interstitial lung disease (pulmonary fibrosis) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • Group 4 is for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), a rare condition where prior blood clots block blood flow in the lungs, sometimes without the patient even knowing blood clots had occurred in the past. CTEPH causes high blood pressure in the lungs, strains the right side of the heart, and results in symptoms like swelling, fatigue, shortness of breath, and difficulty doing activities.
  • Group 5 is due to other causes. Examples include tumors or sickle cell anemia, a condition in which oddly shaped red blood cells block blood flow. 
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Pulmonary Hypertension Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension may include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Swelling in the legs
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness or a feeling you might faint 

Pulmonary Hypertension Diagnosis

Pulmonary hypertension can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to those of many other conditions. If you or your doctor think you might have pulmonary hypertension, it’s important to see experienced lung specialists. At the Emory Comprehensive Lung Center, our doctors use the latest research and advanced treatments to help diagnose and care for patients with lung diseases.

Pulmonary Hypertension Treatments

We offer all FDA-approved treatments for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD). In addition, we offer surgical, percutaneous, and medical therapy for people with chronic thromboembolic disease.

We are involved in several multicenter clinical trials of new therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension as well as a National Institutes of Health-sponsored clinical trial for patients with pulmonary hypertension due to ILD.

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Make an Appointment with Emory Pulmonology Services

Create a MyChart account to schedule online or call 404-778-3261 to schedule an appointment.

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Make an Appointment with Emory Pulmonology Services

Create a MyChart account to schedule online or call 404-778-3261 to schedule an appointment.