Living Well With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

(StatePoint) November is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month, and the American Lung Association, with support from Merck, is raising awareness about one form of the condition: pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

PAH is a serious condition that can affect people of all ages. It occurs when the tiny arteries in the lungs become thickened and narrowed, which causes reduced blood flow through the lungs. This raises pressure in the pulmonary arteries and forces the heart to work harder to push blood through the narrowed vessels. While there is no cure for PAH, there is medication to help manage the symptoms and slow disease progression. Getting a correct diagnosis is essential because without the proper treatment, PAH can be fatal.