Pulmonary hypertension: When high blood pressure hits vessels of the lungs

Early signs of pulmonary hypertension are relatively mild and mimic common conditions such as asthma, poor fitness or anxiety. [Courtesy]

Many people are familiar with hypertension, commonly described as high blood pressure, and widely known as a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and premature death. Many people live with it for years without symptoms, while others experience headaches, dizziness or fatigue.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), hypertension is one of the leading causes of death globally and affects more than one billion people worldwide. In Kenya, national surveys according to WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) suggest that nearly one in three adults has raised blood pressure, yet awareness, treatment and control remain low. This shared familiarity with hypertension, however, rarely extends to other forms of dangerous pressure within the body.