Pulmonary hypertension, also known as pulmonary arterial
hypertension (PAH), is a rare medical condition in which the pressure in the
blood vessel of the lungs increases much beyond normal. Due to various reasons,
the blood vessel contract and become hard, making it difficult for blood to
flow through. This causes increased strain on the right side of the heart,
resulting in right sided heart failure and symptoms like breathlessness,
fatigue, swelling of the ankles, and blue lips.
PAH is of different types: idiopathic; familial;
secondary to other diseases; and associated with left heart disease, lung disease,
and thrombo-embolic disease. Conservative treatment includes the use of
medications which relax blood vessels and prevent narrowing, prevent blood
clots, remove excess fluid, and help the heart pump blood more efficiently.
Lifestyle changes like regular light exercises help improve symptoms. Some
patients may require oxygen therapy. Blood clots may require surgical removal.
Patients who do not respond satisfactorily to medications may require lung or
heart-lung transplantation.
Ayurvedic treatment can help achieve good control of
symptoms, reduce the hardening and blockage of blood vessels, and treat known
causes for this condition. Patients with mild to moderate severity of symptoms
achieve control with about 4 to 6 months of treatment. Patients with severe PAH
may require more aggressive and prolonged treatment. Most patients who achieve
a remission of symptoms do well for prolonged periods without any medication;
however, regular monitoring is desirable. Such individuals should also take
care to avoid extreme or harsh climatic conditions, and strenuous lifestyles.
Ayurvedic treatment is especially useful for those patients
who do not respond satisfactorily to modern medications and are also not good
candidates for surgery. Ayurvedic herbal treatment can prove to be a life saver
for such patients with PAH.
In the late stages, blocked and constricted, hardened
blood vessels can get fibrosed, leading to a further aggravation of the situation.
Since medicines may not be so effective at this stage, it is advisable to
commence treatment at the earliest to get the maximum possible results.
The writer, Dr A A Mundewadi, is available as an
Ayurvedic consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com
