DEAR DR. GOTT: Recently you had a column regarding a gentleman who described breathlessness, exercise intolerance and faintness. I had these exact symptoms before I was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In simple terms this means high blood pressure of the lungs. The vessels in the lungs thicken and constrict to the point that the right side of the heart becomes unable to pump blood into them. Untreated, the right side of the heart “fails” leading to congestive heart failure, such as I had.
PAH is rare and is, unfortunately, often misdiagnosed as asthma, just being overweight, etc., leaving some patients to struggle for years without treatment and many die before they get the proper medication. Doctors who do diagnose it correctly often tell the patients to “go home and get your affairs in order”.
An echocardiogram is one way to aid in the diagnosis but most PAH specialists agree that a right heart catheterization is the “gold standard” for diagnosis.
There is no cure, but there are several promising treatments now available for PAH which allow most sufferers to lead reasonably normal lives.
It would be wonderful if you could let readers who might be suffering with these symptoms know that there is another possible cause and that they should check with a PAH specialist right away. There is a website devoted to this condition and I recommend your interested readers visit it at www.PHAssociation.org.
DEAR READER: I welcome your review concerning pulmonary arterial hypertension. You’ve said it all. The website contains in-depth information, up-to-date treatment options, lists of specialists, and much more. It is, in my opinion, an excellent resource for those newly diagnosed, looking for a specialist, and those looking for a community of people who understand what you are going through.
Thank you for writing.
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