However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. More severe symptoms indicate a more advanced disease. The symptoms of primary pulmonary hypertension may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult your physician for a diagnosis. Pulmonary hypertension is rarely discovered in a routine medical examination, and in its later stages, the signs of the disease can be confused with other conditions affecting the heart and lungs.
Pulmonary hypertension is a diagnosis of exclusion.
The tests are usually performed with special machines that the person must breathe into. This procedure can also assess the function of the lungs. A small catheter is advanced from a blood vessel in the groin or arm through the aorta to the heart. Some patients also require supplemental oxygen delivered through nasal prongs or a mask if breathing becomes difficult. All rights reserved.