High Blood Pressure And Short Of Breath

Does High Blood Pressure Make You Tired

Blood pressure is the force of blood flowing through your arteries.

When a persons blood pressure reading is consistently higher than normal, they may be diagnosed with hypertension, or high blood pressure.

Hypertension is a common health condition among adults, and some hypertensive patients report feeling unusually tired.

If youve experienced this, you may have wondered whether high blood pressure is the cause of your fatigue.

Blood pressure is measured using two numbers.

The first number is the systolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.

The second number is the diastolic blood pressure, and it measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.

High blood pressure refers to a systolic blood pressure reading of 130mmHg and above, and diastolic blood reading at 80mmHg and above.

If your blood pressure is consistently above normal over several checks on different days, your doctor or primary care provider might diagnose you with hypertension.

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What To Expect At Home

When you have heart failure, your heart does not pump out enough blood. This causes fluids to build up in your body. If you drink too many fluids, you may get symptoms such as swelling, weight gain, and shortness of breath. Limiting how much you drink and how much salt you take in can help prevent these symptoms.

Your family members can help you take care of yourself. They can keep an eye on how much you drink. They can make sure you are taking your medicines the right way. And they can learn to recognize your symptoms early.

Your health care provider may ask you to lower the amount of fluids you drink:

• When your heart failure is not very bad, you may not have to limit your fluids too much.
• As your heart failure gets worse, you may need to limit fluids to 6 to 9 cups a day.

How Should I Manage My Pulmonary Hypertension Medications

You may be taking many different medications to treat PH and other medical conditions. It can be a lot to keep track of. Heres some advice.

• Know the names of all your medications, and know how they work. Keep a list with you at all times.
• Take your medications at the same time every day. If you forget a dose, dont take two doses to make up for the dose you missed. Call your provider and ask what to do.
• Dont take any over-the-counter medications unless you ask your provider first. Some cold and flu medicines and pain relievers can cause problems for people with heart failure.
• Avoid any over-the-counter medications that have cautions for people with high blood pressure.
• Dont stop taking any medication or make any changes to your medications unless you first talk with your provider.
• Avoid herbal supplements including herbal tea. Herbal products may interact with some of your medications.

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Other Causes For Fatigue With High Blood Pressure

Although fatigue can be a symptom of high blood pressure, a lack of sleep may actually be a contributing factor, too.

Sleeping 5 hours or less per night may raise your risk for developing high blood pressure. And if you already have high blood pressure, lack of sleep could be making it worse.

In addition, obstructive sleep apnea is a known risk factor for hypertension, especially in older age groups.

Some prescription medications used to treat high blood pressure can also cause fatigue.

Another cause of fatigue could be due to pulmonary artery hypertension. This is when you have high blood pressure in the vessels that carry blood between your heart and lungs. Along with fatigue, it can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness.

There are usually no symptoms or warning signs that you have hypertension. Thats why its so important to monitor your blood pressure.

Its especially important to see your doctor if youre experiencing:

• stress management
• drinking alcohol in moderation

Your doctor will also consider your age, coexisting conditions, and any other medications you take when treating your blood pressure. If necessary, your doctor may prescribe hypertension medications. These include:

Some of these medications can cause you to feel tired.

Other treatments depend on the extent of damage to your heart, kidneys, and overall health.

• following a healthy, balanced, low-salt diet
• getting regular exercise

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Warning Signs Of Heart Failure

By themselves, any one sign of heart failure may not be cause for alarm. But if you have more than one of these symptoms, even if you havent been diagnosed with any heart problems, report them to a healthcare professional and ask for an evaluation of your heart. Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure which requires seeking timely medical attention, although sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably.

If you have been diagnosed with heart failure, its important for you to manage and keep track of symptoms and report any sudden changes to your healthcare team.

This table lists the most common signs and symptoms, explains why they occur and describes how to recognize them.

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Treatment For Pulmonary Hypertension

If you are diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension you will have three- to twelve-monthly reviews, depending on:

• the severity of your illness
• the cause of your pulmonary hypertension
• the treatment you are receiving.

You will be encouraged to make healthy lifestyle changes. You can reduce your risk of worsening pulmonary hypertension by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and avoiding smoking. A healthy diet and moderate amounts of exercise are proven to be of benefit in improving effort tolerance and reducing symptoms. Your treating doctor will issue the appropriate referrals to ensure that any underlying medical conditions contributing to your pulmonary hypertension are managed by the appropriate specialists.Your GP will help you to lower your cardiovascular risk by treating high cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood pressure. It is important to tell your GP or specialist if you are feeling overwhelmed, as they may be able to help you or refer you to someone who can. They may refer you to a counsellor or psychologist who can help you cope with the changes your symptoms make to your everyday life.

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Dont Ignore Shortness Of Breath

Many of us have experienced shortness of breath at some time or another. Its a common complaint that can be caused by many reasons. But when breathing problems do not go away and get worse with exertion, it should be evaluated. Shortness of breath with exertion is a common symptom of pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension is a life-threatening condition that means you have high blood pressure in the arteries that go from your heart to your lungs. Its not the same as having regular high blood pressure. With pulmonary hypertension, the tiny arteries in your lungs on the right side of the heart become narrow or blocked, reducing the flow of blood to your lungs. This causes your heart to work harder. If not treated, eventually it will cause the heart to weaken and could lead to heart failure.

Pulmonary hypertension in its earliest stages is difficult to diagnose because it is often mistaken for heart disease, says Ronald Zolty, MD, cardiologist at Nebraska Medicine. But because it doesnt show up in standard cardiac diagnostic tests, it may be dismissed. Early detection is very important, however. Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive disease. With advances in treatment options, we can stop the progression but we cant undo the damage.

In addition to shortness of breath with exertion, other symptoms include fatigue, lower extremity edema and abdominal distention. In more advanced stages, patients may experience dizziness and syncope.

What The Doctor Does

Doctors first ask questions about the persons symptoms and medical history. Doctors then do a physical examination. What doctors find during the history and physical examination often suggests a cause and the tests that may need to be done .

Doctors ask questions to determine

• When shortness of breath started

• Whether it started abruptly or gradually

• How long the person has felt short of breath

• Whether any conditions trigger it or make it worse

The person is also asked questions about past medical history , a history of smoking, any family members who have had high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels, and risk factors for pulmonary embolism .

The physical examination focuses on the heart and lungs. Doctors listen to the lungs for congestion, wheezing, and abnormal sounds called crackles. They listen to the heart for murmurs . Swelling of both legs suggests heart failure, but swelling of only one leg is more likely to result from a blood clot in the leg. A blood clot in the leg may break off and travel to the blood vessels in the lungs, causing pulmonary embolism.

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What Medications Treat Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary vasodilators are medications that treat PAH and CTEPH. They cant be used for other types of PH, including those caused by underlying heart or lung issues.

Pulmonary vasodilators help your pulmonary arteries relax. This lowers blood pressure and eases the load on the right side of your heart.

People with PH may take a variety of other medications based on their underlying conditions.

What Are The Later Symptoms Of Pulmonary Hypertension

As PH progresses, youll feel shortness of breath even when youre not moving around. Other symptoms include:

• Bluish color on your skin or lips.
• Feeling less hungry than usual.
• Pain in the upper right side of your tummy.
• Racing heartbeat.
• Swelling in your ankles, legs or tummy.

PH symptoms make it hard for you to exercise or carry out your normal daily routine.

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How Can I Prevent Pulmonary Hypertension

Its not always possible to prevent pulmonary hypertension. Some risk factors are out of your control. If you have risk factors, your provider may recommend preventive screenings to check your heart and lung function.

Doing whatever you can to prevent or manage other medical conditions can help lower your risk of pulmonary hypertension. Steps you can take include:

• Create an exercise plan. Ask your provider what exercises are safe for you.
• Follow a heart-healthy diet. Avoid processed foods, fast food and other foods high in salt and saturated fat.
• Quit smoking and stop using tobacco. Smoking and tobacco use are top risk factors for heart and lung problems. Quitting isnt easy, especially if youve been smoking or using tobacco for a long time. But your provider can help provide resources. Support groups may also help.
• Take medications for blood pressure and other conditions as prescribed.

When To See A Gp

See a GP if you have any symptoms of pulmonary hypertension. They may ask you about your symptoms and medical history, and they may carry out a physical examination.

Correctly diagnosing pulmonary hypertension can sometimes take time because its symptoms are similar to those of many other heart and lung conditions.

Tests you may have include a type of heart scan called an echocardiogram, and right heart catheterisation, where a thin, flexible tube is inserted into your pulmonary artery.

The changes in the pulmonary arteries that lead to pulmonary hypertension can be caused by:

• problems with the smaller branches of the pulmonary arteries
• conditions that affect the left side of the heart
• lung diseases or a shortage of oxygen in the body
• blood clots that cause narrowing or a blockage in the pulmonary arteries

Read more about the causes of pulmonary hypertension.

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How Pulmonary Hypertension Develops

Pulmonary hypertension begins when there is damage to the blood vessels of the lungs at a molecular level. Over time these problems build up and, if not corrected, can lead to permanent changes in the makeup of those blood vessels.Pulmonary hypertension is usually a progressive disease , which can be slowed with treatment. Part of the difficulty with treating people with pulmonary hypertension is the subtle and non-specific nature of their symptoms. This often leads to a delay in diagnosis.

How Does Pulmonary Hypertension Affect My Body

Pulmonary hypertension can cause serious problems in your body, including:

• Pericardial effusion.

PH is dangerous for people who are pregnant. It can cause complications for both the birthing parent and fetus.

Without treatment, pulmonary hypertension can overtax your heart and eventually be fatal. High blood pressure in your pulmonary arteries forces your heart to work harder to send oxygen-poor blood to your lungs. Your right ventricle is responsible for pumping this blood to your lungs. So, over time, PH causes your right ventricle to get bigger due to the extra work. This condition can lead to right-sided heart failure.

Right-sided heart failure has a ripple effect throughout your body. It can disrupt the normal workings of many organs and systems.

Because pulmonary hypertension can affect your entire body, its essential that youre diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Your provider will prescribe treatment based on whats causing your PH. No matter the cause, untreated PH is life-threatening.

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After You Call Emergency Services

When you call emergency services, the dispatcher may ask you about the medicines you take and your allergies. If you dont currently take a blood thinner and you arent allergic to aspirin, the dispatcher may advise you to chew an aspirin while youre waiting on medical attention. If you have nitroglycerin tablets, you may also wish to use these as directed by your doctor to reduce chest pain.

If you have a list of medications you currently take or any information about your medical history, you may wish to take this information with you. It can speed your medical care.

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Who Gets Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is a rare condition that can affect people of any age. According to the NHS, its more common in people who have another lung or heart condition. PH can also be associated with other medical conditions such as connective tissue conditions, congenital heart disease, HIV, genetic causes, or it can happen by itself. Read more about the different types of PH and what causes it.

According to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK, PH is more common in women. Studies have shown that the female sex hormone is a risk factor for pulmonary arterial hypertension , with PAH around four times more likely in women.

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Why Does Pulmonary Hypertension Cause Shortness Of Breath

Catching ones breath after mild or no activity could be a sign of a rare but serious condition affecting the bodys ability to circulate oxygenated blood to the heart.

There are many reasons a person might feel winded after climbing a few flights of stairs or some other brief physical activity.

Among them? Pulmonary hypertension or high blood pressure in the loop of vessels connecting the heart and lungs. Shortness of breath is a telltale sign of the condition.

That is the most common presenting symptom, says Vallerie McLaughlin, M.D., director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center.

Its because the right side of the heart is having trouble pushing blood flow through the lungs and its not getting to the left side of the heart and body, McLaughlin says. It puts strain on the right side of the heart, which is not used to pushing against the high pressure.

Patients with PH have blocked or narrowed arteries in their lungs. As a result, the system designed to carry fresh, oxygenated blood into the left side of the heart and then to the rest of the body is affected.

Other indicators of PH include fatigue, lightheadedness, chest pain, racing heartbeat and swelling in the ankles or legs.

Other tests may follow to determine the underlying cause of an individuals PH.

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Monitoring And Controlling Blood Pressure

Baroreceptors are specialized cells located within arteries that act as blood pressure sensors. Those in the large arteries of the neck and chest are particularly important. When baroreceptors detect a change in blood pressure, they trigger the body to react to maintain a steady blood pressure. Nerves carry signals from these sensors and the brain to

• The heart, which is signaled to change the rate and force of heartbeats . This change is one of the first, and it corrects low blood pressure quickly.

• The arterioles, which are signaled to constrict or dilate .

• The veins, which are signaled to constrict or dilate .

• The kidneys, which are signaled to change the amount of fluid excreted and to change the amount of hormones that they produce . This change takes a long time to produce results and thus is the slowest mechanism for how the body controls blood pressure.

Nonetheless, the ways that the body can monitor and control blood pressure have limitations. For example, if a person loses a lot of blood quickly, the body cannot compensate quickly enough, blood pressure falls, and organs may begin to malfunction .

In addition, as people age, the body responds to changes in blood pressure more slowly.

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