Pulmonary hypertension
Duke’s nationally ranked lung and heart teams work together to give you access to the latest methods for diagnosing, treating and controlling pulmonary hypertension, sometimes referred to as PH. Using pulmonary rehabilitation, medical management, and the latest research, we aim to prevent your condition from getting worse, and help you maintain as normal a lifestyle as possible.
Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to your health
Shortness of breath, dizziness, tiredness or chest pain can all be signs of pulmonary hypertension, a type of high blood pressure in your lungs. Left untreated, pulmonary hypertension can cause significant damage to your heart and lungs that can only be improved with a lung or heart-lung transplant.
While there is no cure for pulmonary hypertension, early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve your ability to live with the disease. Specialists in our nationally ranked heart and lung programs review your health history and use sophisticated diagnostic tools to determine the treatment that is right for you. Supervised exercise, education and medical management through our pulmonary rehabilitation program are designed to boost your lung function, and improve your shortness of breath and related pulmonary hypertension symptoms. Whether you are in the earliest stages of pulmonary hypertension or in need of a transplant, we have the experience and knowledge to treat pulmonary hypertension and maximize your quality of life.
Choose Duke for your pulmonary hypertension treatment because we offer:
- Nationally ranked care. U.S. News & World Report ranks both our lung and our heart programs among the best in the nation. We are one of the few places in the nation where lung doctors work with heart doctors to control pulmonary hypertension, which can affect both organs.
- Nation’s leading transplant programs. If you need a lung or heart-lung transplant, our transplant programs are among the nation’s largest, and our survival rates are among the nation’s best.
- Access to the most effective treatments. We are the only medical center in the Triangle to offer a full range of oral, inhaled and intravenous (IV) treatments for pulmonary hypertension. Studies show IV treatments are more effective than other types of medicines at managing the condition.
- Treatments based on latest research. Our comprehensive database of the latest findings concerning pulmonary hypertension ensures you receive the most effective treatments available today.
- Team of experts. Your team may include pulmonologists, cardiologists, pulmonary rehabilitation specialists and other healthcare professionals who help you get your condition under control -- and keep it that way.
- Post-treatment support. Our pulmonary rehabilitation program gives you the tools you need to exercise, eat right, quit smoking, lose weight and make other lifestyle changes that will help you control your pulmonary hypertension.
PULMONARY HYPERTENSION
Treatments
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May be prescribed to help the heart pump blood, reduce excess fluid that puts pressure on the heart, and thin the blood to prevent blood clots.
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Shown to be the most effective at opening your blood vessels and providing relief from chest pain and shortness of breath.
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We offer a variety of inhaled treatment options that help relieve shortness of breath, such as oxygen treatments, Iloprost, and Inhaled Treprostinil.
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Removes blood clots from the arteries in your lungs to help you breathe easier.
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If your lung and/or heart have been damaged by pulmonary hypertension, you may require a transplant. We are among the nation’s leaders in lung and heart-lung transplants performed each year.
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Before, during and following treatment, we offer supervised exercise, education and medical management to improve symptoms, including shortness of breath, tiredness and chest pain. We help you maintain control of your pulmonary hypertension.
PULMONARY HYPERTENSION
Tests
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Measure the oxygen level in your blood, liver and kidney function, and other important indicators to see if you have pulmonary hypertension and determine what treatments might be helpful for you.
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Images of your lungs can reveal signs of pulmonary hypertension, including enlarged arteries and scarring.
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Uses ultrasound images to show heart function. The images are used to measure the pressure inside the right chamber of your heart.
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Tests the electrical impulses of your heart which indicate heart function.
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A catheter is threaded through a vein to your heart to diagnose pulmonary hypertension and determine if it has caused damage to your heart muscle.
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Measure how much air your lungs can hold, how much air moves in an out of your lungs, and your lungs’ ability to exchange oxygen.
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Creates an image of air and blood flow in your lungs. Also used to identify blood clots in your lungs that may contribute to your condition.
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Evaluates how well your body tolerates exercise. Used to determine severity of pulmonary hypertension.