A relatively rare disease, pulmonary hypertension causes high blood pressure in the arteries of your lungs, potentially triggering all kinds of issues with your breathing, heart, and other areas of the body. But did you know there are less common symptoms that may be confused with other diseases and illnesses?
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension or aren’t sure what to make of your current symptoms, you should always be vigilant. With proper treatment and lifestyle changes, the disease can be managed.
Here are five uncommon symptoms of pulmonary hypertension that you may not realize.
1. Blood Clots
When you have a blood clot, adequate blood flow is cut off. This means parts of your body may be depleted of the oxygen and nutrients they need. You may experience sudden severe symptoms that are quite scary. When a blood clot occurs in your lungs, it’s called a pulmonary embolism.
These blood clots in your lungs can lead to hypertension because your blood has to pump harder to try to get around the clot. Not to mention, these clots can narrow your arteries over time, forcing the blood to move faster and harder to pass through.
Signs of a pulmonary embolism typically include sudden shortness of breath, coughing up blood, dizziness and passing out, and sharp chest pain that worsens with breathing. If you have any of these issues, contact your doctor immediately.
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2. Blue Discoloration
Called cyanosis, this sometimes alarming discoloration is the direct result of lack of oxygen or poor oxygen distribution in your bloodstream. You will typically notice cyanosis in your skin, fingernails, and lips. That said, it can also occur in your tongue, gums, and even ears.
Your skin may even take on a more grayish hue, which could indicate a lack of oxygen. This happens because your lung’s arteries are narrowed and oxygen isn’t getting transported like it should be. If left untreated, cyanosis may occur even when you’re at rest and can be potentially life-threatening.
3. Lightheadedness
A lot of things can cause lightheadedness. You may be exhausted from exercise. Perhaps you haven’t eaten in a while and have