A 25-year old woman develops slowly progressive shortness of breath.  After two years of wrong turns in her health care she eventually gets an echocardiogram that suggests pulmonary hypertension.  She has a right heart catheterization that confirms severe PAH.  She is referred to a local pulmonologist who starts her on one oral … [Read more...]

A common problem that I encounter in the office is when a patient with PAH needs to have a procedure such as colonoscopy, upper endoscopy or orthopedic surgery.  For the average healthy person, these procedures represent minimal risk and can be done in outpatient endoscopy centers or at orthopedic hospitals. However, for patients with PAH or other advanced lung diseases these … [Read more...]

We receive many questions about how and when to obtain a second opinion about pulmonary hypertension.  First, as a patient you should never feel insecure or like you are not being loyal or a good patient by seeking a second opinion. This is your health at stake.  Second, your doctor should not make you feel badly for seeking a second opinion. Be Your Own Advocate If you were … [Read more...]

PAH Comprehensive Care Centers are a great place to get care for pulmonary arterial hypertension for several reasons. They have providers specially trained in PAH and other advanced lung diseases, they offer research studies to advance the understanding and treatment options for pulmonary arterial hypertension and they have dedicated nurses to help support their goal of … [Read more...]

  The first PAH State Task Force has been created in Massachusetts. The purpose of the force is to monitor and report annually on advances in research, lung transplantation, public awareness, health care delivery and improvements in early and accurate diagnosis all of which will affect how health care professionals provide care for patients with Pulmonary Arterial … [Read more...]