Stress Echo Test and Pulminary Artery Pressure

[david1972511]

I'm a 41 year-old-male.  Don't smoke, I eat very healthy (Mediterranean diet, cholest. 115, HDL 31, LDL 76, Trigs 76, C-Reaction protein 0.2) weight train 2-3 days per week, exercise bike 5 days per week.  I'm also lean.

I have had a couple of incidents the last couple of weeks of getting very light headed to almost fainting while seemingly having a shortness of breath.  Even though I have been drinking coffee for years, both times it happened about an hour after taking coffee.

I also have PACs and PVCs, but the doctors don't seem concerned about them.

I've also been using 50 mg (Dr prescribed) a night of Trazodone for insomnia which has helped.  I have taken on more anxiety the last few months affecting my sleep.

On any rate, my general doctor recommended I see a cardiologist just to rule out any heart issues as they do run on my father's side.  He thinks I'm probably suffering from Panic/Anxiety attacks, but just wants to be sure.

So, yesterday I had a stress-echo test at the cardiologist's office.  He called me today to say everything was normal and I did well as far as exercise capacity, etc.

***However, he did say my Pulmonary Artery Pressure was normal, but on the "high normal" side.  I don't have the exact number yet.  He said not to worry about it at all and that he didn't even really need to tell me.  But, I am a little concerned none the less.  I thought he said it was the left side, but cannot remember for sure.

****Is "high normal" something I can keep maintained and are there concerns here and over the long hall?

I am going in for a Pulmonary Function Test in a week or two.

Thank you,

-D

[CCFHeartMD11]

High normal pulmonary artery pressures are still normal, so your cardiologist is right that there is no reason to worry at this point. There is no "right" or "left" side when it comes to pulmonary pressures.

Lung diseases can elevate pulmonary pressures, so having PFTs is reasonable. If you are a non-smoker and haven't been exposed to any toxins and don't have a long-standing lung disease, these are unlikely to be abnormal, unless you were having an asthma attack at the time.

If you were anxious that day causing hypertension, that elevated pressure can affect the pulmonary pressures and cause them to elevate as well.

[david1972511]

Sorry one follow-up.

You mentioned no worry "at this point."  My blood pressure was actually just very slightly above what it normal would be.  It was closer to 130/65 where I am normally 115/65 or so resting at evening.

Does being high normal mean it can keep going up, or can it stay like that for years and year? (remainder of life").

I am just trying to understand the full context of the matter better, thanks.

[david1972511]

Thank you very much!

[david1972511]

Just to add, I hadn't really slept for two nights prior to taking the stress ech-test and I was nervous/stresses - can this alter the Pulmonary Artery Pressure result too?