Symptoms and stages of pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is a dangerous disease that, in the absence of treatment, leads to death in a few years. In most cases, the etiology of primary pulmonary hypertension is unknown. Often the symptoms at the initial stage of the disease do not manifest themselves. In rest, signs of pulmonary hypertension appear in a far-gone process.

Causes of pulmonary hypertension

In a significant number of cases, the causes of pulmonary hypertension are not established. However, there are some possible diseases, which are associated with its appearance. These are left ventricular failure, pericarditis, mitral stenosis, cardiomyopathy, chronic bronchitis, pneumosclerosis, pulmonary emphysema, tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, fibrosing alveolitis, sarcoidosis, scleroderma, pulmonary embolism and some other pathological conditions.

Whatever the factor causing pulmonary hypertension, in any case it all begins with a spasm of the smooth muscles of the pulmonary arterioles. Over time, the cells become hypertrophic, narrowing the lumen of the vessels even more. The reason for the reflex narrowing of the arterioles can be an increase in pressure in the left atrium, a decrease in the vascular bed of the lungs, or an increase in blood flow in the respiratory organs.

However, another mechanism is possible for the development of arteriolar spasm. Hypoventilation causing alveolar hypoxemia, as well as vasoactive substances, such as serotonin, histamine and others, cause a transient narrowing of the pulmonary vessels.

Degrees of the disease

Pulmonary hypertension is divided not only into the primary and secondary, but also has a classification of the functional status of the patients. The degrees of pulmonary hypertension were determined by the World Health Organization in the city of Evian.

1. Pulmonary hypertension of the 1st degree. Patients of this group do not have any physical activity limitations, as it does not cause dyspnea or chest pain, nor does it cause fatigue, accompanied by pre-fainting conditions.
2. Pulmonary hypertension of the 2nd degree. Patients in this group have a small restriction of physical activity, accompanied by increased dyspnoea, chest pain and increased fatigue during exercise. Sometimes, pre-occlusive conditions may occur.
3. Pulmonary hypertension of the third degree. Patients have significant limitations in physical activity, because due to the load, more drowsiness and chest pain increase, normal fatigue, and frequent pre-staining conditions.
4. Pulmonary hypertension of the 4th degree. Patients in this group do not tolerate physical activity, dyspnoea and fatigue appear even at rest.

Symptoms of the disease

In the initial stage of the disease, signs of pulmonary hypertension are practically not noticeable. It is known that idiopathic pulmonary hypertension, otherwise called primary, may long disappear as weakness and fatigue. Very few people pay attention to these symptoms. However, the process develops, and after a while, syncopal conditions are added to chronic fatigue, manifested by loss of consciousness and a drop in muscle tone, bloating, pain in the chest. Up to the last stage of the disease at rest, the patient does not bother.

With further development, the symptoms of primary pulmonary hypertension are more pronounced. The most characteristic of these are shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, chest pain, coughing with hemoptysis.

1. Shortness of breath - is expressed in different ways, the character is inspiratory, with the course of the disease increases, but attacks of suffocation are not observed. Dizziness, syncope - this symptom is observed in more than 50% of cases. The loss of consciousness is provoked by physical exertion and can last several minutes. Along with this, patients feel palpitation and heart rhythm disturbance.
2. Chest pains - have a different character and have a varying degree of severity, can last up to a day, not stopping even after taking nitroglycerin. Usually provoked and intensified by physical stress. Such pain should be differentiated from coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction.
3. Cough and hemoptysis - cough is associated with congestive and inflammatory phenomena in the bronchopulmonary system. Hemoptysis is associated with thromboembolism or rupture of pulmonary arteries of small caliber.

Diagnostics

Additional tests are needed to verify the diagnosis.

1. ECG - shows signs of hypertrophy of the right ventricle, as well as the degree of its overload, helps to determine the state of the right atrium. ECG is a good method for diagnosing the condition of the heart, but it must be remembered that in some patients with pulmonary hypertension, the ECG may be normal.
2. Chest X-ray - helps to determine the severity of the disease, as well as to identify possible etiology in the form of interstitial lung diseases and heart defects. In the picture, one can see an enlargement of the pulmonary artery and swelling of its left branch. This method of diagnosis is also not very informative in connection with the absence of radiological changes in a significant proportion of patients.
3. Transthoracic echocardiography is the only noninvasive method of investigation, which allows to determine the cause of pulmonary hypertension and to detect complications of the disease in time. With the help of echocardiography it is also possible to determine the level of systolic pressure in the pulmonary artery.

It is important in time to diagnose pulmonary hypertension. This will help in a timely manner to appoint an effective treatment that can improve the patient's quality of life.