Contact Info Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Pulmonary hypertension occurs when blood circulation through your lungs is restricted by narrowed blood vessels. To maintain blood flow through these narrowed blood vessels, pulmonary artery pressure increases. Pulmonary hypertension can occur by itself, but is often caused by an existing disease. It is a rare condition that mostly affects women in their 30s or 40s. The most common symptom is shortness of breath with exercise, progressing to shortness of breath while at rest.
Many cases have no known cause.
Some conditions that are associated with pulmonary hypertension include the following. What to Expect at Your Provider's Office Your health care provider will give you a thorough examination and order laboratory tests to diagnose your condition. If your pulmonary hypertension is the result of an underlying disease, that disease must be treated. You must avoid excessive physical stress or exercise. If your disease has progressed, you may be advised to have lung or heart lung transplantation.