Pulmonary hypertension occurs when the pulmonary arteries and capillaries in the lungs become narrow, blocked or destroyed so that it becomes difficult for blood to flow through the arteries and into the lungs. As a result, heart muscles need to work harder to pump the sufficient amount of blood into the lungs. This causes weakening of the heart muscles.

If pulmonary hypertension is not diagnosed as soon as possible, the heart muscles will continue to become weaker. At some stage, the muscles will stop functioning altogether. This can be deadly.

Pulmonary hypertension causes a lot of symptoms that hamper the daily activities of life. These symptoms are not obvious initially but become extremely noticeable in the later stages of the disease. Medications need to be taken to alleviate these symptoms.

The most common symptoms are:

1. Having shortness of breath. This condition is known as “dyspnea”.  Although it can occur during periods of physical inactivity, it is more usual while exercising

2. Becoming tired easily

3. Feeling dizzy

4. Fainting

5. Pressure or pain around the chest

6. Swelling in the ankles, legs or abdomen

7. Changing of color of the lips or skin to blue. This condition is known as cyanosis.

8. Having racing pulse

9. Heart palpitations