Pulmonary hypertension is a condition in which you suffer from increased blood pressure within the arteries of your lungs. Because these specific arteries work to deliver oxygenated blood to your heart to be transported throughout the body and return the depleted blood to the lungs, this condition can be serious. It makes your heart work harder than it should to force the blood through the system.
A full analysis of your condition is necessary to plan treatment.
If you suffer from this condition, the first step is a thorough analysis of your heart, veins, and arteries to identify the source of the problem. You may undergo a series of tests, including X-ray, echocardiogram, EKG, CT scan, a chest MRI, and other tests. Once the condition is confirmed as being pulmonary hypertension, the extent of the condition may be evaluated with an exercise test while you are hooked up to an EKG, after which a treatment plan is created. The treatment will be based on the severity of your pulmonary hypertension. The condition is classified as one of the following:
- Class I: You have the condition but are not experiencing any symptoms.
- Class II: You do not experience any symptoms when at rest, but when you are normally active, you experience fatigue, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
- Class III: You have symptoms whenever you are physically active.
- Class IV: You have symptoms whether you are resting or active.
