Do I Have High Blood Pressure in My Lungs? Make an Appointment Ask a Question Search Conditions This information has been reviewed and approved by M. Patricia George, MD (January 2020). Do I Have High Blood Pressure in My Lungs? High blood pressure in the lungs is called pulmonary hypertension (PH). PH can affect your ability to do daily chores, physical activities, sleep, thought and more. Untreated, PH can lead to right heart failure and death. Common Symptoms Fatigue Palpitations Low oxygen levels Chest pain or pressure Near-fainting/fainting Swelling of the ankles or abdomen Heart failure (in advanced cases) Shortness of breath, especially with exertion If you have a family member with PH or if you experience symptoms that are not explained by other diseases, contact a pulmonary hypertension specialist for evaluation. Diagnosis PH mimics other diseases and often goes undiagnosed. Additional tests may be needed to confirm your diagnosis. Here are the most common diagnostic tests for PH: Echocardiogram Heart Catheterization The 5 Types of PH Types of PH Are Grouped by Cause The World Health Organization (WHO) initially named the groups, so they are called WHO Groups. Group Name Causes WHO Group 1 Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Stiffness, narrowing or scarring of the pulmonary arteries WHO Group 2 PH due to Left Heart Disease Left side of the heart does not pump correctly WHO Group 3 PH due to Chronic Lung Disease and Hypoxia Shortage of oxygen WHO Group 4 PH due to Chronic Arterial Obstructions (blood clots) Blood clots blocking pulmonary arteries WHO Group 5 PH from Unknown Causes Not well understood. Most Patients Have PH Due to Left Heart Disease Group 2 Left Heart Disease 33.5% Groups 2 & 3 Left Heart & Lung Disease 28.3% Group 1 Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) 15.6% Group 3 Chronic Lung Disease & Hypoxia Group 4 Chronic Arterial Obstructions (blood clots) Groups 2, 3 & 4 Left Heart Disease, Lung Disease & Blood Clots Groups 2 & 4 Left Heart Disease & Blood Clots Groups 3 & 4 Lung Disease & Blood Clots Facts Living above 8,200 feet elevation increases risk of Group 3 PH Females develop PAH 2-3X more often than males 46% of PAH cases are from unknown causes Additional Resources Pulmonary Hypertension Overview Living with Pulmonary Hypertension Pulmonary Hypertension Information and Videos High Blood Pressure in the Lungs – A Facebook Live Q&A Care for Pulmonary Hypertension Want to use this on your website? Fill out the content usage request form and then copy this code: