Risk Factors For Pulmonary Hypertension

High Altitudes

High altitudes are a major risk factor for pulmonary hypertension because the amount of oxygen in the air lowers as the altitude increases. However, because of the reduced oxygen, their pulmonary arteries will constrict. This will often mean that an individual’s heart and lungs must work harder to keep them breathing and pumping what little oxygen they do get around their body.

Individuals who are only spending a temporary period at a higher altitude, such as on a hiking trip up an incredibly large mountain, are better off. They can take supplemental oxygen with them and take things slower. However, they must return to a lower altitude is they start experiencing shortness of breath and fatigue. The risk of pulmonary hypertension is harder to decrease if individuals live at a higher altitude. Even if they have adapted, their arteries, heart, and lungs are still working much harder. This keeps their risk of pulmonary hypertension fairly high.

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Eisenmenger Syndrome

Eisenmenger syndrome is a congenital heart condition that can increase an individual’s risk of developing pulmonary hypertension later in their life. This heart condition results in a hole in the heart between the 2 lower ventricles. This large hole is called a ventricular septal defect. This defect compromises regular blood circulation. It makes oxygen-rich blood mix with oxygen-poor blood. When this happens, blood is often returned to the lungs. This increases a patient’s chances of developing blood clots and increases their blood pressure. Both of these put them at a high risk of pulmonary hypertension.

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