Pulmonary hypertension???

Question

Heya

my friend has had pulmonary hypertension for quite a while now, and although to other people this may seem very sad she would like to kno the average life expectancy of someone with pulmonary hypertension but she is too scared to ask doctors or parents.

so please can somebody help this will be muched appreciated thanks again x Emily x

Answer 1

It often takes some time to find the best treatment for pulmonary hypertension. The treatments are often complex and require extensive follow-up care. Your doctor may also need to change your treatment because it's no longer effective. The best approach for you will depend on a number of factors, including your age, the type and class of pulmonary hypertension, and your overall health. When pulmonary hypertension is the result of another condition, your doctor will treat the underlying cause whenever possible.

Treatments for pulmonary hypertension include the following:

Blood vessel dilators. These medications, also known as vasodilators, open narrowed blood vessels. One of the most commonly prescribed vasodilators for pulmonary hypertension is epoprostenol (Flolan). The drawback to epoprostenol is that its effects last only a few minutes. This drug is continuously injected through an intravenous (IV) catheter via a small pump that you wear in a pack on your belt or shoulder. This means that you'll learn to prepare your own medication mixture, operate the pump and care for the IV catheter. You'll need comprehensive follow-up care. Potential side effects of epoprostenol include jaw pain, nausea, diarrhea, leg cramps, as well as pain and infection at the IV site.

A newer form of the drug, iloprost (Ventavis), avoids many of these problems. Iloprost can be inhaled every three hours through a nebulizer, a machine that vaporizes your medication, making it far more convenient and less painful to use. And because it's inhaled, it goes directly to the lungs. Side effects associated with iloprost include chest pain — often accompanied by headache and nausea — and breathlessness.

Endothelin receptor antagonists. These medications reverse the effect of endothelin, a substance in the walls of blood vessels that causes them to narrow. One of these medications, Bosentan (Tracleer), may improve your stamina and symptoms. The drug isn't for pregnant women. If you take this, you'll need monthly liver monitoring because the drug can damage your liver.

Sildenafil. Revatio, a medication that contains sildenafil, the same active ingredient as the impotence drug Viagra, is sometimes used to treat pulmonary hypertension. It works by opening the blood vessels in the lungs. Side effects include dizziness and vision problems.

High-dose calcium channel blockers. These drugs help relax the muscles in the walls of your blood vessels. They include medications such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac) and nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia). Although calcium channel blockers can be effective, only a small number of people with pulmonary hypertension respond to them.

Ambrisentan. Ambrisentan (Letairis) is another medication that stops the narrowing of your blood vessels. Because of the risk of liver damage, and to minimize the risks to unborn children, you can only be prescribed ambrisentan through the Letairis Education and Access Program (LEAP). Before taking the drug, tell your doctor about any liver conditions you have.

Anticoagulants. Your doctor is likely to prescribe the anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin) to help prevent the formation of blood clots within the small pulmonary arteries. Because anticoagulants prevent normal blood coagulation, they increase your risk of bleeding complications. Take warfarin exactly as prescribed, because warfarin can cause severe side effects if taken incorrectly. If you're taking warfarin, your doctor will ask you to have periodic blood tests to check how well the drug is working. Many other drugs, herbal supplements and foods can interact with warfarin, so be sure your doctor knows all of the medications you're taking.

Diuretics. Commonly known as water pills, these medications help eliminate excess fluid from your body. This reduces the amount of work your heart has to do. They also may be used to limit fluid buildup in your lungs.

Oxygen. Your doctor may suggest that you sometimes breathe pure oxygen, a treatment known as oxygen therapy, to help treat pulmonary hypertension, especially if you live at a high altitude or have sleep apnea. Some people with pulmonary hypertension eventually require constant oxygen therapy.

Transplantation. In some cases, a lung or heart-lung transplant may be an option, especially for younger people who have idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. Major risks of any type of transplantation include rejection of the transplanted organ and serious infection, and you must take immunosuppressant drugs for life to help reduce the chance of rejection.

You should get alot of rest . This disease has a genetic component. If your thinking about having children , make sure you are tested for the gene. I hope your friend lives a long time..............

Answer 2

No physician has a crystal ball and therefore can not accurately predict how long you will live. Pulmonary hypertension is a serious disease that can shorten life expectancy and as with all medical conditions, prognosis also depends on the severity of the problem when it is diagnosed. The severity of pulmonary hypertension found at the time of initial diagnosis has a wide range, and how a given patient responds to treatment can greatly alter the prognosis. There are effective treatments that prolong life and improve symptoms. New treatments are currently under evaluation and may further improve the outlook for this disease. Many patients with PAH live for many years; developing coping strategies that help a person to live well despite their PAH is an important aspect of moving forward.

It just depends on how bad she is or how good.  There's some that life long there's others that die young.  My best friend's best friend died when she was 16 because of PAH  but that doesn't mean that your friend will.  Tell her to ask her doctor.  Only her doctor can give her a semi accurate answer to this question.

Answer 3

If it is Primary and not Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension it usually is around 3-4 years.