Common Symptoms

• Irregular heart palpitations or strong, throbbing sensation in the chest
• Passing out or frequent dizziness
• Progressive shortness of breath during any physical activity or exercise
• Difficulty breathing at rest
• Swelling in your  ankles  and legs

Causes of Symptoms

• Liver diseases or lung conditions: Blood clots in the lungs, pulmonary fibrosis or cirrhosis of the liver could lead to the development of pulmonary hypertension.
• Heart diseases: Conditions such as aortic valve disease, left heart failure and congenital heart disease could be some of the probable causes for the conditions
• Genes: Most often the condition is inherited from parents but the percentage of such cases are very less.
• Illegal drug use: Continuous usage of drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine leads to long-term damage and can even be life-threatening.
• Arthritis: Sometimes, certain rheumatologic conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis might lead to the pulmonary artery becoming narrow.

Diagnosis & Treatment

1. Blood tests: Helps detect the presence of HIV, Arthritis or Lupus
2. CT Scan: Helps detect the enlarged pulmonary artery and find out the other probable causes for the condition
3. Echocardiogram: Helps get a better understanding of the status of the blood pressure
4. Electrocardiogram (ECG): Helps get a complete overview of the heart’s activity & strain
5. Exercise testing: Helps manage the changes in oxygen level, heart function and other things.