Getting Covid could increase your risk of developing pulmonary hypertension, a deadly blood pressure condition.
In a new study published in Scientific Reports, researchers found that people who contracted Covid-19 were more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) up to 4.5 years after infection.
In OSA patients, the upper airway partially or completely closes during sleep, blocking airflow to the lungs and causing breathing to repeatedly start and stop.
The study also found that patients who developed post-Covid OSA were more likely to experience heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Here’s everything you need to know about the serious condition.
What is pulmonary hypertension?
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a type of high blood pressure that primarily affects the pulmonary arteries, which carry blood from the heart to the lungs.
Over time, this elevated blood pressure damages the pulmonary arteries, narrowing the space where blood can flow.
As a result, the right ventricle must work overtime to pump blood through those arteries and into the lungs. This extra effort weakens the heart and enlarges the right ventricle, which can lead to right-sided heart failure.
PH is a progressive disease, and without treatment, it can be fatal.
Experts estimate that PH affects about 1 in 100 worldwide. While it’s most common among people over age 65, it can affect anyone, including newborns, children, and younger adults.
A family history of pulmonary hypertension and/or blood-clotting disorders increases the risk.
Smoking, excess weight, asbestos exposure, congenital heart defects such as Eisenmenger syndrome, illicit stimulants, and living at a high altitude can also increase the risk of developing pulmonary hypertension.
What are the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension?
Pulmonary hypertension symptoms develop slowly over the course of months or years and include:
- Swelling in the ankles legs, and belly area
- Shortness of breath
- Blue or gray skin
- Chest pressure or chest pain
- Dizziness
- Loss of appetite
- Fainting
- Pounding heartbeat
- Fatigue
Because these symptoms can be caused by lots of health conditions, seeking medical care is needed to get an accurate diagnosis.
Potential complications include heart enlargement and failure, arrhythmia, blood clotting, bleeding in the lungs, and life-threatening complications for pregnant women.
What are the stages of pulmonary hypertension?
PH is divided into four stages or functional classes based on symptoms and ability to carry out daily tasks. As PH gets worse, the symptoms become more obvious and disruptive.
- Class 1: No symptoms.
- Class 2: Symptoms occur during ordinary activities, such as cleaning your house or shopping, but subside at rest.
- Class 3: Normal tasks are much more difficult to complete due to fatigue and shortness of breath.
- Class 4: Symptoms present even during rest and worsen when movement is attempted.
While there is no cure for PH, there are treatments that can improve and prolong patients’ lives.
How is pulmonary hypertension diagnosed?
It’s diagnosed through a physical exam and subsequent testing.
The physical exam includes measuring vital signs, listening to heart and lungs with a stethoscope, checking for swelling, and looking for bulging neck veins, which can indicate heart failure.
Tests include blood tests, chest CT scans and X-rays, VQ scans, Doppler echocardiogram, and right heart catheterization.
Providers may require patients to submit to a six-minute walk test to determine how much oxygen is in the blood during physical activity.
How is pulmonary hypertension treated?
Treatment can include medications, dietary changes, oxygen therapy, procedures or surgeries.
Medicines include Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists, and prostacyclin analogs. There is also emerging research that GLP-1 drugs — like semaglutide, tirzepatide and the as-yet-unapproved-by-the-FDA retatrutide — might be promising for treating the condition.
PH prognosis depends on the type of PH, how early it’s diagnosed, and the coexistence of other health conditions.
In terms of lifestyle, experts recommend reducing salt intake and prioritizing foods high in fiber, potassium, and magnesium.
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