PPH Symptoms

What are the Symptoms Of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH)

The most common symptoms of primary pulmonary hypertension or pulmonary arterial hypertension are related to difficulty with breathing. They include:

Progressive shortness of breath (especially with activity)
Hyperventilation (breathing harder and faster)
Fatigue (tiring easily)
Progressive weakness
Fainting spells
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Coughing up blood
Progressive cyanosis (blue tinge to lips hands and feet)

These symptoms may occur at presentation, or progress over a period of time. A patient with primary pulmonary hypertension must be monitored for these symptoms by routine visits to their cardiologist or pulmonologist. If any new symptoms develop, patients should notify their doctor immediately.

A physical examination of patients with primary pulmonary hypertension may show:

• Distension of veins in the neck
• Swelling of the legs and hands due to fluid retention
• Enlarged liver

All of these signs are related to the right ventricle working harder to pump blood into the high resistance of the lungs' blood vessels, (Click to see Pictures of PPH)