Search This Blog

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

Primary pulmonary hypertension, a rare and life – threatening disease that increases blood pressure in the lungs and damages heart valves, can be treated through a variety of methods, including lifestyle changes, medication, and lung and heart transplants. It often results from the use of diet drugs such as Fen – phen. Unfortunately, this illness is not yet curable and has a poor prognosis.

Primary pulmonary hypertension symptoms subsume enervate, difficulty in live, dizziness, fainting, swelling in the ankles or legs, depressed discoloration of the lips, and chest woe. Fortunately, some medications, such as anticoagulants, can benefit dominion the symptoms of the disease and better the superiority of life for those who are unfavorable eclipse PPH.

Anticoagulants elbow grease in the body by preventing the coagulation of blood. The drugs can either prohibit inexperienced clots from forming or an existing band from upping in size. Anticoagulants perk not dissolve clots nowadays in existence. By reducing blood coagulation, this type of medication lessens the strain on the heart from primary pulmonary hypertension, moulding it easier to pump blood through the pulmonary artery. Several studies peeled that understanding survival percentage is major when treatment adumbrate anticoagulants occurs.

Two informal illustration of anticoagulants used today introduce Heparin and Warfarin. Heparin is a biological substance derived from the belly of pigs. It works by electric antithrombin III which stops thrombin from clotting blood. Warfarin, the most commonly used anticoagulant in the United States, works by inhibiting the vitamin K dependant consonance of active forms of separate calcium clotting factors. Dosage of these drugs is lily-livered over they frequently interact smuggle many commonly prescribed medications. Even diets high in vitamin K will change the effects of Warfarin, making the drug less efficient. Side effects of anticoagulants such as Warfarin include hemorrhages, Warfarin necrosis, osteoporosis, and purple toe syndrome.

In addition to anti – clotting medication, other drugs can be used to ease the symptoms of PPH. Calcium channel blockers and vasodilators are sometimes used in the treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension. Calcium channel blockers work by triggering the vascular smooth muscles in the lungs to open, easing pulmonary artery pressure. Vasodilators, such as Flonan and Tracleer, work by activating a reaction in the endothelium cells, which lowers pressure and strain.

Primary pulmonary hypertension is a serious and complicated disease. Modern medication, such as anticoagulants, can help ease the symptoms of the illness. Unfortunately, with no available cure, medication can only help patients control the negative side effects. more....http://www.hypertension-info.com