What is considered Pulmonary Hypertension?

[Candiflip]

Hey all,

So I'm confused.. I got a print out at the GP office today and it says this on  it..

"Pulmonary arterial pressure is estimated to be 27 mmHg."

Is that Pulmonary Hypertension?

I don't see anything in the CONCLUSIONS about it just the findings, but then again I only have page 1 of 2 here with me.. dr only handed me 1 page.. So now it has me wondering if there were more conclusions on the second page..

[Candiflip]

Thanks Ken!
I was going to back and see GP today but did not go.. ended up just called and left message for dr that I WANT these referals to ENT and the PH dr here in the area. Will see if I get a call back in the am after see sees the message. I'm just tired of going in over and over.
Not sure if you seen my other post in other forums? About the pulsatile tinnitus ect.
I don't know if it's all connected or not.. but I do know that my dr putting me on ear drops for 2 weeks after I told her I could not keep my head up if felt so heavy and my neck so week and I was wearing  a pulse like sounds/wooshing sound in my ear as well as having migraines and pressure in both ears was the best thing to do. I really thing after actually looking up info myself, she should of sent me to ENT dr over a month ago.. now I need to wait.  I even went back and told a second dr at the clinic the same thing and again he told me to take these drops.. I never filled that RX ..

[kenkeith]

Q: So is not the pulmonary arterial pressure higher then normal? There is nothing they will do? Will it get worse over time?  Because at this point I already feel like crap somedays(like out of breath doing things climbing stairs) and I have dr's office calling me back saying everything is fine.. I'm confused.

>>>>>>You should consult with a pulmonary specialist regarding the higher than normal pulmonary pressure.  A cardiologist probably wouldn't get involved until the right side of the heart enlarges or other heart signs and symptoms.

Sorry for an email mixup.  Take care,

Ken

[Candiflip]

So weird I can not find in my inbox.
I'm going to go in to clinic today and see if I can get a referral to a ENTdr. I really don't know what else to do. I think I might have linked something going on w/ all of this. I asked dr after dr over the last 10 months about the rings/wooshing/and pulse sound in my ear as well as the pressure. They all said it was nothing until recently where they said I had dull ear drum and a little bit red canal.. I have been on ear drops over and over and dr only gave me them again .. I'm not taking again because I feel they are making it worse. If you can post our answer to my question here that would be great and I will ask the dr I see today about the PH pressure if you think I should?

[kenkeith]

Received an anwered, thank you for your question.

Ken

[Candiflip]

Hey Ken I sent you a PM did you get? Someone told me before they never got my PM I'm not sure if I'm sending right.
Thanks!

[Candiflip]

Thanks Ken so much!
I will call my dr office tomorrow, my normal GP is in and leave her a message regarding it to see what she says. When I went in the other day I had my 2 year old with me who was soo tired of waiting in the office of an hour before dr came in, and it was not my normal dr.. so I just asked him to print out and I would see my gp about it if needed. So yeah kinda just printed and walked out the door with out going over it...but at least I know what I'm looking at now and can ask questions :)

[kenkeith]

Often a cardiologist doesn't get ivolved with pulmonary issues and may not be the best choice for your slightly high pulmonary pressure.  I would see a pulmonary specialist because the PAP can be associated with the lungs and a very serious condition of COPD can develop and there are no symptoms until there is significant lung damage has occurred and it can worsen over time.  

At least you should have dx for the underlying cause of the higher than normal pressure.  It can be primary and idiopathic (cause unknown) are there can be underlying causes that can be treated.  

Thanks for your response, take care and I wish you well going forward.

Ken

[Candiflip]

Great to hear! Thanks so much.

"..your PAP is not severe, if anything it is mild and should not be of any medical significance at the present time. "

So will dr keep an eye one? Will it change over time/years?(get worse that is)

[kenkeith]

Due to medication (ACE inhibitor) my veins are at times prominent as shown on the photo, but the size varies throughout the day.  It can go from about 2.5 mm to greater than 2.5 mm.  

Segments of enlarged vessels can be due to blockage, and/or tortuous vessel configuration that can build up pressure (enlarge) to move blood through configuration of enlargement, etc.

There could be a vascular pathology, right-side heart failure that causes blood to backup in the veins.  Associated with PAH there can be a right side failure as the pressure of PAH can/will enlarge the right ventricle and an enlarged RV can lose some of the ability to pump blood to the lungs and blood in the veins can enlarge and leak fluids into the tissues..

You don't have any report that suggests you have heart failure (rightside), and your PAP is not severe, if anything it is mild and should not be of any medical significance at the present time.

Thanks for your response, take care,

Ken

[Candiflip]

thanks ken, so do you think it is PAH? I did not get call from cardiologist office today. I might call tomorrow.. but was waiting since it was a long holiday weekends so I'm sure they were busy!
I have a question related to the PAH or even just heart issues/problem in general. Since all of this started happening my veins on my hands/arms/and sometimes neck swell.. like pretty bad. Is this related in ANY way?  I was actually kind of embarrassed today when I was out and about and a lady started staring at my arms then whisper to the lady next to her to look. I mean wth!  :(  It's really hard to take a picture while holding the camera myself.. but here is a example.
http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/203943?personal_page_id=40033

[kenkeith]

I believe page 1 are the conclusions and page two are the details for the conclusion.  PAP has the basis of resting and exertion.  Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) at rest is higher than 25 mmHg and exercise PAH is greater than 30 mmHg.

Thanks for the question. Take care,

Ken