Pulmonary arterial hypertension
When pressure in the lung rises
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease that affects both the lungs and the heart. The blood vessels in the patients' lungs are constricted, raising the blood pressure in the pulmonary vascular system. Because the obstruction of the lung arteries is progressive in the course of this disease, the heart has to pump continuously against this higher resistance. This constant burden on the heart muscle can lead to right ventricular failure.
As the signs of this disease are unspecific and therefore PAH is often diagnosed very late, it leads to a reduced life expectancy of patients.
