Top Causes Of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Every time blood passes through the heart, the lower right chamber, that is the right ventricle, pumps blood to the lungs via a blood vessel known as the pulmonary artery. Inside the lungs, the blood releases carbon dioxide and absorbs oxygen. Normally, blood flows easily through the vessels in the lungs and hence, blood pressure remains low. An alarming blood pressure rise in the lungs causes pulmonary arterial hypertension. There are several reasons for yielding the disease.
In some cases, the problem can be caused by a combination of attributing factors. Treatment in such cases becomes quite complex. In case the cause is unknown, the condition is known as idiopathic pulmonary hypertension.
Some of the most important causes of pulmonary arterial hypertension are:
- Drug abuse: The problem of pulmonary arterial hypertension can also be triggered by drug abuse. Though a number of illegal drugs can cause the issue, most notable offenders are cocaine and methamphetamine.
- Congestive heart failure: In addition to other medical conditions, several cases of congestive heart failure causes pulmonary arterial hypertension.
- Blood clotting in the lungs: Another important cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension is blood clotting inside the lungs. In several medical conditions, blood starts to clot inside the lungs, resulting in a number of lung-related conditions, including pulmonary arterial hypertension.
- Liver disease: Several liver-related diseases can also result in pulmonary arterial hypertension. The most notable liver disease that causes pulmonary arterial hypertension is chronic cirrhosis.
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Many people suffering from HIV experience an increased blood pressure in the lungs, i.e. pulmonary arterial hypertension.
- Medical conditions: A number of short-term as well as long-term medical conditions can result in pulmonary arterial hypertension, including autoimmune diseases, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma.
- Lung diseases: Emphysema, a form of lung disease, causes pulmonary arterial hypertension in some cases. Other lung diseases with the potential to bring pulmonary arterial hypertension include chronic bronchitis and pulmonary fibrosis.
- Others: Other than those causes mentioned already in the list, some cases of sleep apnea and a heart defect from birth can also result in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
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