Pulmonary arterial hypertension is when the person has high blood pressure in the lungs. They have increased pressure in the small vessels because of obstruction in the small arteries that are in the lungs. The arteries in the lungs will taper in width and will refuse to accept the blood flow through the lungs. As the years go by, the increased blood pressure can also damage the heart. In general, people get PAH when another illness has damaged their lungs or heart. A person’s pulmonary blood pressure can be raised by some common problems like sleep apnea, and COPD, lung diseases.

PAH is a serious disorder in which a person’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts back up. The common causes are when the throat muscles relax, the brain does not give the proper signals to the muscles that are controlling the breathing, or a person could have both obstructive and central sleep apnea. For instance:

1. Treatments for sleep apnea
The common treatment for lung disease is using a CPAP machine at night. The mask of the machine fits over the nose and or mouth, and it blows air into the lungs gently. When people can not get used to the CPAP machine sometimes surgery is recommended. The surgery would remove tissue in the upper airway. Dental appliances can also be used to reposition the tongue and lower jaw. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation can also be done with an implant that is placed in the patient’s chest. The breathing sensor and tongue movements are then controlled. Losing weight, avoid alcohol and quit smoking are musts with people who have severe sleep apnea.

2. Causes of COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or a combination of the two. It is a slowly progressing disease that makes patients have a hard time getting air out of their lungs. Chronic bronchitis is the swelling of the airways and the patient’s body produces more phlegm. Patients with emphysema have damaged the alveoli of their lungs. This makes the alveoli to lose elasticity. The alveoli traps air and may cause hyperinflation. Airways then collapse without the support of the alveoli and cause obstructions. The damage is permanent.

3. Treatments for COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatments will lessen airflow limitations, and treat secondary complications like infections and hypoxemia. This will improve the health of the patient.

4. COPD recommended lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes are a must. Patients must stop smoking and being around secondhand smoke. Patients must avoid fumes, dust and anything else that may cause the lungs to become irritated.

5. Bronchodilators
People who have COPD usually are prescribed bronchodilators. These are used to relax the muscles in the airways. By opening up the airways, it makes it easier for the patient to breath. There are short- and long-term bronchodilators. Patients are usually given both along with a nebulizer.

6. Preventing infections
Individuals with COPD should remember to get their vaccination every year for the flu and make sure their pneumonia shot is up to date. This lung disease is more susceptible to lung infection and the infections will aggravate their condition.