Elisa-Pulmonary Hypertension

[Guest guest]

On pulmonary hypertension. It is a nearly inevitable complication of this disease process. As our lungs become more 'stiff' it becomes more and more difficult to push blood through them. This results in increased pressure in our pulmonary (lung) veins and arteries. This results in even more shortness of breath and extreme fatigue among other things. It's not generally diagnosed early on in the pf process but rather later as our lungs become more diseased. Something I want to emphasize though, it can come on very very fast. (ask Joyce) You can have a clear echocardiogram and 6 months later be in severe PH. Scary stuff. Which is why I agree with Bruce in saying that regular echocardiograms are at least as important as regular PFT's. They can catch PH in the earlier stages when it is most easily treatable.

Beth

Age 48 Fibrotic NSIP 06/06

Change everything. Love and Forgive