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Pulmonary hypertension care
Pulmonary hypertension specialists at Ascension St. Vincent deliver care for adults with high blood pressure in their lungs.
Care for pulmonary hypertension in Indiana
Pulmonary hypertension specialists at Ascension St. Vincent deliver care for adults with high blood pressure in their lungs.
Why choose us
When you choose Ascension St. Vincent for your heart care, your doctor is part of a national heart care team of specialists sharing best practices, research and the latest in cardiovascular therapeutics and treatments -- bringing the best of heart care to you.
Our program is the first accredited program in Indiana by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association for Pulmonary Hypertension Care Centers. This accreditation is awarded to programs that demonstrate a dedication to making a proper diagnosis, and the capacity to appropriately and comprehensively manage pulmonary hypertension patients.
Understanding pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension (PH), also known as high blood pressure in your lungs, affects children and adults. It can be caused from high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, connective tissue disease, liver disease, blood clots to the lungs, and chronic lung diseases.
Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension
Common symptoms of pulmonary hypertension include:
- Bluish color to lips and skin
- Chest pressure or pain
- Dizziness or fainting
- Fatigue
- Racing pulse or heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath, when exercising and eventually at rest
- Swelling in ankles, legs and possibly in abdomen
How we diagnose pulmonary hypertension
A blood test is a lab analysis of things that may be found in your blood. You may have blood tests to keep track of how well you are managing a condition, such as diabetes or high cholesterol. You may also have them for routine checkups or when you are ill.
This is also known as a cardiac or heart cath. For this test, your doctor guides a small catheter (hollow tube) through the large artery in your upper leg, or sometimes your wrist or arm, into your heart. This procedure lets your doctor take a close look at the heart to identify concerns and to perform other tests or procedures.
This imaging procedure uses an X-ray machine and a computer to create 3-D pictures of the heart. Sometimes a dye is injected into a vein so that your heart arteries can also be seen. Sometimes medicine is given to lower your heart rate so it captures a better image. It can also be used to find out how much calcium is in your heart arteries. Calcium is a marker for coronary artery disease.
A test that takes pictures of internal tissues, including the heart.
It's used to check the heart's function and structures. During the procedure, a transducer (like a microphone) sends out sound waves at a frequency too high to be heard. When the transducer is placed on the chest at certain locations and angles, the sound waves move through the skin and other body tissues to the heart tissues. The waves bounce or "echo" off the heart structures. These sound waves are sent to a computer that can create moving images on the screen of the heart walls and valves.
This test records the electrical activity of the heart, shows abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias), and can sometimes detect heart muscle damage.
This is a type of nuclear radiology test. A small amount of a radioactive substance is used to help find changes in the arteries leading to the lungs and blood flow within the lungs. This scan can also be used to check lung function.
These are diagnostic tests that help to measure the lungs’ ability to move air into and out of the lungs. The tests are often done with special machines you breathe into.
A sleep study is a number of tests recorded at the same time during sleep. The tests measure specific sleep aspects like the amount of oxygen in your blood and help diagnose sleep disorders and heart conditions.
We start by listening to you, to better understand you and your symptoms. Then, your doctor works with you to create a care plan that’s right for you. The right care starts with the right diagnosis.
How we treat pulmonary hypertension
- Anticoagulants: These are blood thinners used to make the blood less likely to clot and help it flow more freely.
- Calcium channel blockers: These help decrease blood pressure and are used on some people if specific testing shows a benefit to use these medicines.
- Diuretics: Called water pills, these are used to decrease the amount of fluid in the body. They help reduce swelling and the amount of work the heart has to do.
- Vasodilators: These are medicines that work directly to lower the blood pressure in the lungs, which can be given orally or in intravenous form.
- Other medications: These may be used to help lower blood pressure in the lungs. They can also help the heart beat stronger and pump more blood.
Some people need supplemental oxygen delivered through nasal prongs or a mask if breathing becomes difficult.
This may be a treatment option for people with severe disease.
There is no cure for primary pulmonary hypertension. Your doctor helps manage symptoms and may recommend a combination of options treatments.
Clinical trials
Our doctors are committed to being leaders in cardiovascular research, working to help improve how we diagnose and treat heart and vascular diseases. You can talk to your cardiologist if you are interested in participating in clinical trials.
Get a second opinion from a heart specialist
Decisions about your heart care are important. Getting a second opinion not only provides more information about your condition, but it can help you feel more confident in the doctor and the care plan you choose. Consider getting a second opinion if:
- Your diagnosis or prognosis is unclear
- You’ve been told you have a rare or life-threatening condition
- You would like to explore other treatment options
- Your treatment options are costly or risky
- You want to hear an opinion from another specialist
- Your insurance requires a second opinion
How to get care
To make an appointment, a referral should be made by your primary care doctor or another specialist. Once the referral is received and reviewed, you will be contacted to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.
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