Pulmonary Hypertension: Causes

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is the result of a process that begins with changes in the cells that line your lungs' arteries, caused by three possible types of changes that affect the pulmonary arteries:

• The walls of the arteries tighten.
• The walls of the arteries are stiff at birth or become stiff from an overgrowth of cells.
• Blood clots form in the arteries.

Certain diseases and conditions, such as congenital heart disease, HIV, and thyroid disease, can cause this PH. The use of stimulants, such as diet medicines or illegal street drugs (like cocaine), can lead to PH.

Many other diseases can also lead to PH, including:

• Mitral valve disease
• Lung conditions, such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Sleep apnea
• Sickle cell anemia
• Sarcoidosis

This information has been adapted from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.