recognizing pulmonary hypertension

[red starburst]

Hello, can you tell me the best way to recognize pulmonary hypertension.  I have had shortness of breath that comes for a few days then goes completely away for a week and then comes back for a few days again.   This shortness of breath is while I am AT REST (such as right now at the computer), and is not really associated with exercise.   A sort of "air hunger" if you will.  My lungs feel "deflated", so to speak, as if I don't have enough elesticity to my lungs.  Also when I lay on my back it feels like a weight on my chest and my breathing is further restricted.

I have had a negative ABG, PFT, echo, ekg, and chest xray.  I am 35 years old/male/caucasian.  

I don't have any known respiritory exposure except for pink insulation from working in attics (don't know if that could be a factor or not).

I was especially concerned about pulmonary hypertension and the best way to test for this.  But then I read that the shortness of breath associated with PH is when physically active, so that put my mind at ease (a little).

Any comments/advice appreciated...my doctor has dismissed it as a mild nervous reaction.

Thanks!

[md1johnson]

You will also have edema and possibily sleep apnea. I've had PH for a while now and I'm on o2 and medication. Any help I can be just let me know

[National Jewish]

The symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are shortness of breath, chest pain and near syncope.  Pulmonary arteries that are not larger than usual on a chest x-ray show that you do not have this problem.  A normal echocardiogram tells for sure.  As your doctor has suggested your pattern of shortness of breath is most consistent with a mild nervous reaction or anxiety, with or without panic attacks.

[Sunny602]

How is your breathing when you lie flat? I mean completely flat without any pillows whatsoever? You mention that you feel like there is a weight sensation on your chest when you lie down, but do you have worsening of your breathing than when you sit upright? You said you have been through EKG's, echos (usually they can pick up increased pulmonary artery pressures), ABG's and chest xrays...have you been through a sleep study? It doesn't explain your shortness of breath while upright in a chair, but you may be having problems with your sleep, just an out there thing to consider since you say it is like sleeping with weight on your chest. I hope your doc figures you out...if not, then it is okay to get second opinions. Also, another thing to consider...how about a stress test to check out your heart? Won't hurt to consider even though your other tests have been normal, I say leaving no stone unturned is good as long as the patient isn't hurt in the process. Also, any labs drawn? Just my two cents...I hope all comes out okay for you, Sunny :)

[Inanga]

I suggest you consider you evaluate your breathing technique. It is easy to slip into a shallow chest breathing mode rather than using the diaphragm properly. I had this problem - it had become a deeply ingrained habit which took several months of deliberate training to eradicate. The training was simple - after learningto identify the breathing mode and the proper technique it was a matter of practicing several times a day - the simplest way is to lay down one hand on chest and the other on belly. See which hand moves when inhaling. The belly one should do the moving. I found my diaphragm was very weak from lack of use and it took quite a while to strngthen it. You can use a 1kg weight like a bag of rice on your tummy to provide some resistance training. You can also get a doodacky the provides resistance when breathing in through it - althletes use it to make their diaphragms really strong.
The air hnger feeling is horrible and it can lead to panic attacks as you feel like you can't breathe. If you breathe harder but still shallow you will hypervenitlate and actually get too much oxygen and feel dizzy as well. The secret is to breathe deeply with the diaphragm but slowly so you don't hyperventilate.
I found I had a food allergy to corn which made lots of mucous in my throat and it got hard to breathe because it felt like I was going to suck the mucous down into my lungs. Avoiding corn has eliminated that one.

I hope this is your problem since it's not a disease in the sense that there is nothing pysically wrong, just how yur using your body. That would be great news. I know from my expereince that the fear of more serious causes made me stress and that made be tense up my abdominals and that made me chest breathe so the fear made it worse. good luck!