Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a problem that affects the arteries. The narrowed arteries make it hard for the heart to pump blood into the lungs and then into the body. This results in the heart working harder to pump blood causing it to become weak. This disease progressively becomes worse and some types of pulmonary arterial hypertension can be fatal. It takes months sometimes years before the constriction becomes severe and noticeable due to pressure build-up.

Signs and symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is not detected in the early stages. The symptoms become noticeable once they progress and become worse. The symptoms include palpitations, racing pulse, blue lips and skin, chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath and fatigue.

Causes of pulmonary arterial hypertension
There are many reasons why pulmonary arterial hypertension takes place. These include idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, gene mutation, using illegal and prescription drugs, unhealthy diet pills, heart defects found at birth; connective disorders like HIV infection, chronic liver disease, scleroderma, and lupus.

Those having left-sided heart disease may suffer from pulmonary arterial hypertension. It happens due to the failure of the lower left heart chamber/left-side valvular heart disease like aortic valve disease/mitral valve disease.

Lung disease is also known to cause pulmonary arterial hypertension or it may be brought on by obstructive pulmonary diseases like emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and exposure to high altitude for a long time, and sleep apnea.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is also caused by chronic blood clots in the lungs, a tumor pressing against the arteries, metabolic disorders like glycogen storage disease and or disorders affecting multiple organs.

Eisenmenger syndrome is a type of congenital heart disease, which also causes pulmonary arterial hypertension. This syndrome causes a large hole in the heart between two lower chambers. It is also called a ventricular septal defect. The hole causes the blood to flow abnormally in the heart. The blood returns to the lungs instead of going to the body, which increases the pressure on the pulmonary arteries.

Risk factors like using drugs have various medical conditions, or a family history of this disease or you are overweight, or take appetite suppressant medications increases the chances of developing pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Complications
Pulmonary arterial hypertension may cause complications like cor-pulmonale cause’s right-sided heart enlargement and heart failure. The right ventricle gets enlarged and the heart pumps harder to move blood through narrow arteries. Eventually, the right ventricle fails under the strain.

Blood clots help to stop bleeding from a wound but if one is dislodged and travels to the lungs it may lead to pulmonary arterial hypertension, which is reversible with treatment and time. This disease may also cause clots to develop in the lungs, which can be dangerous.

Irregular heartbeat in the upper and lower chambers causes dizziness, fainting, and palpitations. Pulmonary arterial hypertension also causes bleeding in the lungs leading to coughing up blood, which can be a fatal complication.