Pulmonary Hypertension: Treatment

Although pulmonary hypertension has no cure, many medicines, medical procedures, and therapies exist to treat it. Some of these treatments include:

• Diuretics, or "water pills." These medicines help reduce fluid buildup in your body, including swelling in your ankles and feet.
• Blood-thinning medicines. These medicines help prevent blood clots from forming or getting larger.
• Digoxin. This medicine helps the heart beat stronger and pump more blood. Digoxin is sometimes used to control the heart rate when certain abnormal heart rhythms occur, such as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.
• Oxygen therapy. This treatment raises the level of oxygen in your blood.
• Physical activity. Regular activity may help improve your ability to be active. Your doctor can help you create an exercise plan that's safe for you.

For more severe cases, heart or heart-lung transplants may be necessary.

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