Not being able to catch your breath is scary, but shortness of breath can occur in a wide range of medical conditions, including high blood pressure and pulmonary hypertension.
Traditional hypertension (high blood pressure) is diagnosed when your heart has to beat harder and with more force to overcome narrow or blocked blood vessels in your body. This problem can be the result of things like high cholesterol and hardening of the arteries.
Pulmonary hypertension — high blood pressure affecting the heart and lungs — sounds similar, but in this case, the increased pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs may not be widespread. Instead, the real problem is with the pressure in the arteries that move blood between your heart and lungs.
Read on for more about how high blood pressure can affect your breathing and other ways your blood pressure might be linked to shortness of breath.
High blood pressure may not cause noticeable symptoms, which is why it’s called “the silent killer.”
When you have high blood pressure, your heart has to work much harder to pump blood to your entire body. Overworking your heart can, over time, lead to a number of other health problems like cardiovascular disease, which can cause shortness of breath as a symptom.
Some people with hypertension may experience a
Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure affecting the heart and lungs. It develops when the pressure inside the vessels that move blood between your heart and lungs is high.
Blood that has returned from circulation in your body and has been depleted of oxygen cycles through the heart and then onto the lungs, where it’s enriched with fresh oxygen before returning to the heart for system-wide circulation.
Pulmonary hypertension, on the other hand, can appear not just with shortness of breath but with these other
- fatigue
- chest pain
- high heart rate (tachycardia)
- pain in the upper abdomen
- loss of appetite
- coughing
- wheezing
- lightheadedness
- loss of consciousness
- leg swelling
If shortness of breath appears alongside general high blood pressure, there are likely other issues that are contributing to this symptom, such as:
- heart disease
- angina
- heart attack
- heart failure
- kidney disease
- stroke
- anxiety or panic attacks
You can also have shortness of breath because of conditions unrelated to your blood pressure measurement, like asthma, pneumonia, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
When to seek medical care if you have shortness of breath
If you are becoming short of breath frequently, or it’s severe enough that you aren’t able to speak a full sentence without struggling for breath, see your primary healthcare professional for a physical examination.
Shortness of breath that leaves you lightheaded, with blue-tinged lips or fingernails, or causes you to lose consciousness requires immediate evaluation, and call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Shortness of breath or labored breathing can lead to all kinds of complications, whether the cause is hypertension or something else.
Untreated shortness of breath can cause hypoxia, which is low levels of oxygen in your blood and tissues. When this happens, certain tissues — especially critical organs like the brain and heart — become permanently injured or destroyed.
Additionally, untreated high blood pressure can increase your risk of developing a wide range of cardiovascular problems, including heart disease and even stroke or heart attack.
For pulmonary hypertension, in particular, the main complication to watch for is heart failure. Long-term overworking of the heart actually enlarges and weakens cardiac muscles, and your heart pumps less effectively. When this happens, oxygenated blood can’t get to where it needs to go, resulting in tissue damage and other serious problems.
General hypertension can be treated with a combination of diet and lifestyle changes and medications. If you have pulmonary hypertension specifically, you may be prescribed various inhaled, oral, or intravenous medications or even oxygen therapy.
Like with general hypertension, you should also consider making the following
- quitting smoking.
- monitoring your weight closely for rapid increases
- eating a balanced, healthy diet
- getting regular exercise
- avoiding using hot tubs or saunas
- being cautious with air travel and visiting high-altitude locations
- managing your anxiety and stress levels with medications or holistic treatments
There are five main types of pulmonary hypertension, and your treatment will depend on which
While a specific diagnosis may make treatment options seem promising, there’s really no cure for pulmonary hypertension. Instead, your healthcare professional will work with you to manage your symptoms and prevent additional complications.
There’s no singular
Managing conditions like heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases can help you keep pulmonary hypertension from leading to potentially life threatening complications.
However, with the right lifestyle changes and medications, you and your healthcare professional can develop a treatment strategy that can help you maintain and stay active.
Not all cases of general high blood pressure or pulmonary hypertension are
Quitting smoking, eating a nutritious diet, and getting regular exercise are all helpful, but it’s also important to take any medications your healthcare professional prescribes you.
Failure to take medications that are meant to control things like your cholesterol and blood pressure could lead to many other health issues, complications, and symptoms like shortness of breath.
Is pulmonary hypertension curable?
Pulmonary hypertension isn’t really curable, but it’s treatable. Your doctor will prescribe things like medications and things like oxygen therapy to help you manage your symptoms.
Does pulmonary hypertension run in families?
Not all pulmonary hypertension is inherited, but the condition does run in some families. Tell your doctor if you know of a close blood relative with pulmonary hypertension.
Is shortness of breath from pulmonary hypertension fatal?
Shortness of breath for any reason can be life threatening if it becomes severe enough. If you experience shortness of breath that causes symptoms like fainting, lightheadedness, confusion, or loss of consciousness, seek immediate medical attention.
Hypertension, heart failure, and other cardiovascular diseases can all develop into serious medical issues that may appear with shortness of breath.
Pulmonary hypertension, a type of high blood pressure that develops in the blood vessels between your heart and lungs, is the main kind of hypertension that results in shortness of breath.
If you have frequent or severe shortness of breath, discuss your symptoms with your healthcare professional as soon as possible to avoid potentially dangerous complications.