Pulmonary hypertension facts for kids

Pulmonary hypertension, or PH, is a health problem where the blood pressure in the lungs becomes too high. This makes it tough to breathe. People with PH might feel dizzy or tired easily. Sometimes, they might even faint. These feelings often get worse when they exercise or work hard.

PH is a serious condition. It makes the heart work extra hard to pump blood. Over time, this can make the heart sick too. In very serious cases, some people might need a lung transplant or a heart-lung transplant to get better.

Images for kids

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  Right ventricle (on left side)

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  Micrograph showing arteries in pulmonary hypertensive with marked thickening of the walls.

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  Three major signaling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension

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  Phonocardiogram and jugular venous pulse tracing from a middle-aged man with pulmonary hypertension caused by cardiomyopathy. The jugular venous pulse tracing demonstrates a prominent a wave without a c or v wave being observed. The phonocardiograms (fourth left interspace and cardiac apex) show a murmur of tricuspid insufficiency and ventricular and atrial gallops.

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  Severe tricuspid regurgitation

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  Pulmonary artery hypertension and emphysema as seen on a CT scan with contrast

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  4-month-old with pulmonary hypertension as seen on ultrasound

See also

In Spanish: Hipertensión pulmonar para niños