Pulmonary Hypertension

In pulmonary hypertension, the small artieries of the lungs constrict, becoming narrow and thick. This means less blood is able to flow through them. When this happens, pressure within the vessels builds up and the heart muscle must work harder to force the blood through. When the pressure becomes too high, the heart can't keep up and less blood is circulated through the lungs. This results in less oxygen to the entire body. Eventually, right-sided heart failure, or cor pulmonale, may occur, another complication of COPD.

Facts About Pulmonary Hypertension