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.

Signs and Symptoms

The most common symptom is shortness of breath with exercise, progressing to shortness of breath while at rest. Other symptoms are:

• Getting tired easily
• Fainting
• Cough
• Chest pain
• Swelling of the lower extremities
• Coughing up blood

What Causes It?

Many cases have no known cause. Some conditions that are associated with pulmonary hypertension include the following.

• Congenital heart disease
• Mitral stenosis or regurgitation
• Certain kinds of lung disease
• Obesity, especially with sleep apnea
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Cocaine abuse
• Use of dexfenfluramine and other diet drugs

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.

Treatment Options

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.

Drug Therapies

Some treatments your health care provider may use include the following.

• Supplemental oxygen
• Vasodilator therapy for those with no underlying disease
• Anticoagulant therapy is used if the primary disease is thromboembolic pulmonary disease.
• Diuretics for right ventricular failure

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Nutrition

• Coenzyme Q10 (100 mg twice a day) supports cardiac function, is an antioxidant, and oxygenates tissues.
• L-carnitine (500 mg three times per day) improves endurance and is needed for efficient cardiac function.
• Magnesium aspartate (200 mg two to three times per day) increases efficiency of cardiac muscle and decreases vascular resistance.
• Potassium aspartate (20 mg per day) improves the ability of the heart muscle to contract.
• Vitamin E (400 IU per day) is an antioxidant and protects the heart.
• Vitamin C (250 to 500 mg twice a day) is an antioxidant, improves vascular integrity, and stimulates immune function.
• Taurine (500 mg twice a day) enhances cardiac function.
• Selenium (200 mcg per day) is a cardioprotective antioxidant.
• Choline (250 to 500 mg per day) and inositol (150 to 200 mg per day) positively affect heart and lung activity.

Herbs
Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Combine the following herbs in equal parts in tincture form and take 30 drops three to four times per day.

• Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) helps your heart work more efficiently without making it work harder. Strengthens the integrity of and mildly dilates blood vessels.
• Garlic (Allium sativum) helps you cough up mucus, lowers blood pressure, stimulates your immune system, and helps prevent hardening of the arteries.
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) strengthens cardiac function, prevents hardening of the arteries, prevents spasms, and improves circulation to the lungs.
• Linden flowers (Tilia cordata) prevents spasms, lowers blood pressure, prevents hardening of the arteries, relaxes your respiratory system, and helps you cough up mucus. Also stimulates immune function.
• Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) improves peripheral blood flow and decreases platelet aggregation.
• Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflata) stimulates respiratory function, reduces spasms, and lowers blood pressure. Used in high doses this herb can have toxic side effects. Using small amounts in a formula (one-fourth or less) will minimize the risk of toxicity.

Homeopathy
Homeopathy may be useful as a supportive therapy.

Physical Medicine
Caster oil pack. Apply oil directly to chest, cover with a clean soft cloth and plastic wrap. Place a heat source over the pack and let sit for 30 to 60 minutes. Use for three consecutive days.

Contrast hydrotherapy. Alternate hot and cold applications to the chest. Alternate three minutes hot with one minute cold. Repeat three times to complete one set. Do two to three sets per day. For very sick patients use cool and warm applications to decrease the contrast.

Steams. Using three to six drops of essential oils in a humidifier, vaporizer, atomizer, or warm bath will stimulate respiration and circulation. Consider eucalyptus, rosemary, thyme, or lavender.

Acupuncture
May support treatment of symptoms through an increase in circulation.

Following Up

The prognosis for pulmonary hypertension is generally poor.

Special Considerations

For the most part, women who have primary pulmonary hypertension should not get pregnant because the condition is dangerous for both mother and baby.

References

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