Pulmonary Hypertension

[myhome]

My husband, 58, has SOB on exertion and tires easily. His sleep study indicates 2-3x a night his O2 sat levels drop to 87%. His history includes asthma (inhaler 2x day), low cholosterol. Prior to the sleep study he had sinus surgery for loud raspy breathing regardless of how he slept.  The surgery helped about 90%. He then had the sleep study done. He has had the following test done--heart cath (2 yrs ago), pulmonary study, chest xray, echocardiogram, all with negative results, except for low choloesterol.  Could he possible have pulmonary hypertension?

[National Jewish]

It would be very unlikely for your husband to have pulmonary hypertension with all the negative tests that you have noted.  Shortness of breath and tiring easily can be due to a heart or a lung problem.  It is unlikely that he has a heart problem since his echocardiogram and heart catheterization were negative.  The heart catheterization usually includes measuring the pulmonary artery pressure.  With pulmonary hypertension there is high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries.  Since this test was negative your husband’s pulmonary artery pressure must be all right.  He may have a lung problem or just be in poor physical condition.  He should have an exercise study done either by a cardiologist or a pulmonologist.