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Pulmonary Hypertension in Babies

September 7th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Pulmonary hypertension in babies is extremely devastating because of the serious dangers that it can present. Although pulmonary hypertension in babies is not common there is the chance that it could seriously compromise the baby’s health and have long term complications.

It is important to understand how pulmonary hypertension in babies works and what is involved, especially before you attempt to treat it. In the uterus a baby’s circulation bypasses the lungs, and normally when a baby is born and begins to breathe air on his own the circulatory system quickly adapts to the outside world. There are some cases however in which the fetal circulatory system does not switch over as it should and as a result even though the baby is breathing, oxygen in the breathed air will not reach the bloodstream.

Signs and Symptoms

It is very important to be aware of the common signs and symptoms associated with this condition, so you will be able to notice them if they ever develop in your own child. This includes rapid or irregular breathing, rapid heart rate, respiratory distress, and cyanosis.

Treatment

There are a few different options when it comes to the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in babies. The first step is to maximize the amount of oxygen being delivered to the baby’s lungs. This will help determine the severity of the condition and from this which particular treatment is going to be best suited.

If your child has a lung problem related to this condition for instance then his breathing rate may be set at a higher than usual rate and pressure through the mechanical ventilator. Research has shown that supplying inhaled nitric oxide to babies with this condition may also be successful and works by improving blood flow to the lungs in some babies with pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension in babies can be a frightening condition, but it is important to know that there is help out there and things that can be done in order to help lower your child’s blood pressure.

Scope of the Treatment

September 1st, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Thanks to modern science, there are various types of pulmonary arterial hypertension medical treatment available today. These treatments can effectively help in prolonging life. The most common treatment methodologies may involve – medications, oxygen supply and lung transplantation. Depending on the severity of the problem, patients are suggested to under either or in combination of these three pulmonary arterial hypertension medical treatments. Scientists have not yet been successful in finding out the exact cause behind the development of PAH.

Types of Medicines

In the medical treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, there are primarily two types of medicines used. The first one is approved by FDA and this category involves the following types of medicines – Phosphodiesterase Type-5 Inhibitor, Prostanoids, and Endothelin Antagonists. On the other hand, the second category includes the names of the supplementary medicines and here are the names of the types belonging to this category: Anticoagulants, Calcium Channel Blockers, Diuretics and Cardiac Glycoside.

A Brief Overview on Medicines Used

The medicines used in the medical treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension may be associated with adverse side effects, which cause different types of health complications in the patient concerned. Anticoagulants are used to reduce the ability of blood clotting. Since the threat comes from the formation of blood clots in the artery, anticoagulants are used to minimize the risk. However, a persistent intake of medication may pose other health risks such as unusual bleeding, chills and fever.

Calcium channel blockers are used to relax the muscles of blood vessels, while increasing the quantity of oxygenated blood moving into heart. This, quite obviously, allows heart to put less effort in pumping blood throughout the body. Side effects of calcium channel blockers may involve coughing, shortness of breath, swelling in feet, etc. Cardiac glycosides are used to give strength to the heart, while including specific side effects like vomiting, loss of appetite, etc. Unfortunately yet there is no cure for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, medical treatment still exists and the sector has been dramatically improved in recent decades.

All about Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

August 26th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is defined as the persistent high blood pressure occurring in the pulmonary artery. While in normal condition the resting pulmonary rate count is nearly 14 mmHg, it can increase up to 25 mmHg or more when an individual is suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is a life-threatening condition. Although there is treatment for this condition, but there is no definitive cure. Let us explore few facts about pulmonary arterial hypertension, or PAH in short.

The Complications

Transmission of oxygen-mixed blood from right ventricle to small arteries becomes possible with the help of pulmonary arteries. When someone suffers from pulmonary arterial hypertension, the muscles of the pulmonary arteries become tightened up, which eventually convert the internal space narrower. In time, smaller blood clots may block the arterial passage, leading to right heart failure syndrome. This is one of the most common causes of mortality among people suffering from PAH.

Risk Factors

There are certain risk factors that put an individual at higher risk for developing pulmonary arterial hypertension. Prolonged use of appetite suppressants, amphetamines or cocaine may increase the risk quite significantly. HIV infection or AIDS may heighten the vulnerability towards developing PAH. Apart from that, liver diseases and connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma can pose serious threat. However, doctors have not yet found the exact causes behind the development of PAH and why some individuals are at higher risk than others.

Signs & Symptoms

Shortness of breath is one of the most common symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Besides that, other common symptoms may include fatigue, fainting, bluish skin and lips, dizziness, palpitations, racing heart and chest pain. As the disease progresses, the pumping function of the heart becomes weaker and the energy level gets reduced. At the advanced level, the patient will experience difficulty in performing simple activity or movement. In addition, symptoms may become prevalent even when the patient is on rest. At the worst end, he may turn out to be bedridden.

Treatment

Not all people suffering from PAH become sick. In fact, still there are lots of other options to keep an individual steady and active, such as, maintaining healthy lifestyle and healthy diet, avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, doing regular exercise, etc. Practicing relaxation technique in combination with stress reduction therapy can offer good result. Walking is considered as one of the most effective exercises among all for the people suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The objective of the treatment involves treating the underlying causes, alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life, slowing the formation of blood clot and smooth muscle cell, and increasing oxygenated blood supply. Typically, there are three modes of treatment. These are – medications, oxygen supply, and lung transplantation. Other possible advanced level treatments may involve stem cell transplantation in combination with gene and DNA therapy in near future.

Primary Hypertension

August 20th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

There are actually two broad categories of hypertension, one being primary hypertension and the other secondary hypertension. A large majority of the patients diagnosed with hypertension have primary hypertension, and primary hypertension is known as the unexplained hypertension because unlike secondary hypertension there is no known cause of this particular condition.

There are certain risk factors to this condition that you should be aware of, to determine whether or not you are at higher risk of developing it yourself. Some of the most recognized risk factors include family history or genetics, environmental factors, eating patterns, occupation, and obesity.

There are also certain symptoms which are commonly experienced at the onset of the condition, such as dizziness, palpitations, blurred vision, nosebleeds, hematuria, and even abnormal sounds over the renal arteries.

Getting Treatment

It is imperative that anyone suffering from primary hypertension find the right treatment and deal with their condition as promptly and properly as possible. Although there are many options available in terms of treatment, the most commonly recommended is prescription medication. At least in the earlier stages of the condition drugs for hypertension are often used to help relieve the symptoms associated with the condition and to help prevent the person’s blood pressure from rising even more.

There are also many more natural and safer alternatives to treating high blood pressure however, if you would rather. First and foremost you need to make sure that you are eating a healthy diet, one that is rich in whole foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and of course plenty of water. A healthy diet is truly the most important ingredient in any natural medicine treatment and will not only help with your hypertension but also help to guard you from various other health problems and conditions.

Increasing exercise will also be helpful here, particularly the more relaxing exercises such as Tai Chi and Pilates.

Common Causes

August 14th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Although the field of medical studies has been progressed dramatically in recent decades, alas, no one yet has been able to conclude a single explanation behind the development of pregnancy induced hypertension. No one even can define the triggering factors for this undesirable condition. However, pregnancy induced hypertension is seen to be more prevalent in the case of first pregnancies, but less prevalent in successive ones.

Diagnostic Procedure

The diagnosis of pregnancy induced hypertension is possible by comparing the blood pressures of the mother during prenatal visits. Once the doctor has identified a threshold point, or a striking rise in the blood pressure level from the baseline, then the doctor generally concludes that pregnancy induced hypertension is present in the patient. However, administering successive tests are also necessary to confirm the condition.

Possible Treatments

The treatment strategies largely depend on a wide variety of factors, such as pregnancy level, severity of the condition, the condition of the baby inside, other health complications, etc. Considering all of these vital factors, doctors recommend relevant treatment procedure. Essentially, the patient is asked to take complete bed rest whenever possible. During this period, blood pressure is monitored in a more persistent fashion.

On the other hand, other monitoring tests are also conducted. These tests may involve blood tests, urine tests to identify the protein level, fetal cardiac rate monitoring, fetal growth and evaluation of amniotic fluid volume. There is no possible cure for this condition other than the delivery itself. However, following the delivery, even the condition may persist for few hours to few weeks.

Pre Hypertension: A Comprehensive Overview

August 8th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

When blood circulates throughout our bodily system, blood pressure occurs as a result of the forces exerted on the artery wall due to the circulation process. When the blood pressure is slightly elevated than the normal count, the condition is referred to as pre hypertension. If it is left untreated, it may lead to critical level of high blood pressure, eventually increasing a high health risk for developing stroke, severe cardiovascular complication, heart attack and heart failure. Let us explore a comprehensive overview on pre hypertension.

Signs and Symptoms

Unfortunately, pre hypertension does not develop with apparent symptoms. Truly speaking, even if someone has an advanced level of high blood pressure, he may rarely show any symptoms. Only blood pressure monitoring on a regular basis may help in diagnosing the condition at the earlier phases. So, you may either visit doctor’s chamber to keep a track of it or you may buy blood pressure monitoring home kit to keep the track by yourself. In either way, it is highly recommended that you must check it regularly in order to avoid adverse condition.

Possible Causes

Typically any factors that may contribute in increasing the pressure on the artery wall are the causes of such complication. Essentially it may involve narrowing down the artery inner passage and an unusually excessive amount of blood. Apart from that, there are few diseases like sleep apnea, kidney disorder, adrenal disease and thyroid disease may contribute to the development of pre hypertension. In addition, certain medications like cold remedies, birth control medications, use of amphetamines and cocaine may put the individual at risk.

Treatment

When your blood pressure is rising, it means you are at risk for developing cardiovascular diseases. This is why it is mandatory to control your pre hypertension once you get an alarming sign. One you become able to change your lifestyle to a healthy one, you are about to take a great control over your pre hypertension. Eating healthy diet, especially Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, will offer benefit to you. Have fruits and green vegetables as well as less saturated fat.

Overweight can pose a serious threat for developing pre hypertension. In addition, you need to get a control over your sodium intake. You must reduce your sodium intake in your daily diet. Do not promote sedentary lifestyle. Always remember that staying active can help you stay fit and healthy for long years. You must restrict over the amount of your alcohol consumption. If you are suffering from pre hypertension along with other health complications, doctors may suggest you to take medications accompanied by healthy lifestyle change.

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