Pulmonary Hypertension

If something went wrong with your heart, would you know it? Not all heart problems come with clear warning signs. There is not always an alarming chest clutch followed by a fall to the floor like you see in movies. Some heart symptoms don't even happen in your chest, and it's not always easy to tell what's going on. "If you're not sure, get it checked out," says Charles Chambers, MD, director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute. That's especially true if you are 60 or older, are overweight, or have diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, says Vincent Bufalino, MD, an American Heart Association spokesman. "The more risk factors you have," he says, "the more you should be concerned about anything that might be heart-related." Especially watch out for these problems: 1. Chest Discomfort It's the most common sign of heart danger. If you have a blocked artery or are hav...

If you feel like you've had trouble breathing lately, your anxiety may be the cause. With all we're facing in the world, it would be hard for any of us to feel calm all the time. If you're experiencing shortness of breath, it may just be your body's natural response to stress. Everyone's anxiety manifests differently. Your shortness of breath may come through with waves of intense anxiety, which can last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. It may also cycle on and off throughout the day. However it's impacting you, know that you're not alone. Shortness of breath can be a symptom of anxiety, and there are ways to help you manage it in the moment. Shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea, can feel downright scary or confusing. So, the first thing to know is that shortness of breath associated with anxiety usually goes away on its own. The symptoms may persist until you feel relaxed again. You can experience: a lump in your throat trouble taking a full breath che...

Belly fat can be more than uncomfortable and make your clothes a bit tighter, it can be harmful. Catherine Johnston, a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer explains,  "Abdominal fat's more dangerous form is called 'visceral fat.' This is the fat that can surround the organs and can cause inflammation, which often contributes to chronic diseases including diabetes and heart disease." While losing abdominal fat can be a challenge, with dedication and a few lifestyle changes, it can happen. Read the five tips below to see how to reduce your waistline. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID . Shutterstock Johnston says, "Both high intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate intensity cardio workouts longer than 45 minutes were shown in a 2017 comparative study to help reduce abdominal fat mass, but HIIT shows greater long-term promise due t...

This article was originally published here Echocardiography. 2021 Dec 13. doi: 10.1111/echo.15267. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The left ventricle (LV) journey in their transition from hypertrophy to heart failure is marked by many subcellular events partially understood yet. The moment in which the structural abnormalities reach the umbral to induce myocardial dysfunction remains elusive. AIMS: To evaluate the anatomic-functional relationship between LV wall thickness and longitudinal systolic dysfunction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively performed clinical assessment and transthoracic echocardiogram on healthy individuals and hypertensive patients with left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% and absence of heart failure symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 226 patients and 101 healthy individuals were recruited. The distribution for sex was similar between groups. The mean age was 67±13 years old in the patients, and 44% had concentric LV hypert...

Share on Pinterest New research examines what medication adults with hypertension are taking. David Smart/Stocksy Most people with hypertension in the United States have not managed to lower their blood pressure to recommended levels with treatment. There are many causes of high blood pressure, and some drugs can contribute to this. Researchers have shown that many individuals with hypertension are taking medications that could raise their blood pressure. There are often alternatives to these drugs that healthcare professionals should consider for those individuals. Nearly half of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, or hypertension. Yet only 1 in 4 of them have managed to reduce their blood pressure to the recommended levels with treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is important to keep blood pressure within the recommended levels of under 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Hypertension increases the risk of developing a heart a...

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that can range from mild to severe. Predicting the recovery time for a severe asthma attack can be challenging, because everyone's case is different. Typically, recovery time will take days to weeks, some of which may be spent in the hospital. This article discusses how to identify a severe asthma attack, treatment options, and recovery times. PeopleImages / Getty Images What Is a Severe Asthma Attack? Severe asthma is asthma that does not respond well to typical asthma treatments. The body's response to severe asthma involves inflammation and constriction of the bronchioles (the smallest branches of the lungs' bronchial airways that move air). This narrowing of the airways makes it difficult to breathe and can cause a distinct sound called wheezing. Severe asthma is classified based on several factors, including what symptoms are present, whether the attack responds to medi...

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. End stage heart failure is the most severe form of heart failure. A person with heart failure experiences weakening of the heart over time. Management and treatment options can help a person live with the symptoms that this condition causes, but heart failure is chronic, and there is no cure. In end stage heart failure, the body can no longer compensate for the lack of blood the heart pumps. A person might find it difficult to breathe even when they are resting. This article will discuss end stage heart failure, including common signs and symptoms. It will also explain the causes of the condition, as well as how to manage, treat, and help prevent it. Finally, it will explore the outlook of people with end stage heart failure. People with end stage heart failure or disease tend to experience symptoms all the time, even when resting. A person with end stage heart failure may experience symptoms of...

Anyone can develop vascular disease, though some people are at increased risk compared to others. General risk factors for vascular diseases include: Numerous conditions can affect the vascular system, including: 1. Peripheral vascular disease Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) refers to diseases of the blood vessels outside the heart and brain. In PVD, a fatty deposit called plaque accumulates on the inner walls of blood vessels, causing the vessels to narrow. This narrowing impairs blood flow through the vessels. One of the most common forms of PVD is peripheral artery disease (PAD). This type of PVD can affect blood vessels anywhere in the body but generally affects arteries in the legs. Symptoms People with PVD may experience the following symptoms in areas where blood vessels have narrowed: Treatment Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and getting more exercise can help prevent PVD or PAD from worsening. A doctor may also recommend the following treatments: medications, suc...

A person with abdominal bloating may notice that their tummy looks larger than usual. They may also experience a sensation of fullness, tightness, or discomfort in the abdomen. Sometimes, abdominal bloating can affect movement of the muscles that separate the abdomen from the chest. This can leave a person feeling short of breath. Keep reading for more information on the link between abdominal bloating and shortness of breath. This article also outlines some of the situations and conditions that can cause these symptoms to occur together. Abdominal bloating and shortness of breath can occur independently of each other. Sometimes, however, the two symptoms may occur together. Abdominal bloating can affect the diaphragm, causing shortness of breath. The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle that separates the abdomen from the chest. The up-and-down movements of the diaphragm enable a person to breathe. When the abdomen is bloated, however, it can press against the diaphragm, thereby inhibiting ...

Several tests can help a doctor determine if a person has pulmonary hypertension. The tests are mostly outpatient procedures with minimal risk to the person getting tested. Pulmonary hypertension is an elevation in the blood pressure of the lungs. It can happen due to heart disease, but can also be spontaneous due to clots or other chronic diseases. A doctor may recommend one or more tests to help diagnose pulmonary hypertension and its causes. This article lists some of the most common tests doctors may use to diagnose pulmonary hypertension. As part of an initial diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, a doctor may order a chest X-ray. A chest X-ray can show whether a person has an enlarged right ventricle or pulmonary arteries as well as signs of scarring or other issues related to the lungs. What to expect X-rays use some radiation during the procedure. A person should talk with their doctor about associated risk factors before doing the procedure. For example, they should tell their ...