Conditions

• Asthma • Pulmonary Hypertension • Sleep Disorders • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) • Lung Cancer • Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Pulmonary Hypertension (PH)
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a simplified name for a complex health problem: high blood pressure in the lungs. It is a disease that affects people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

Most cases of PH are often not recognized until they are quite advanced. As a result, many people may have pulmonary hypertension without knowing it.

PH is often not diagnosed because its early symptoms can be confused with those of many other conditions. Some of these symptoms of PH include:

• Breathlessness or shortness of breath
• Feeling tired all the time
• Dizziness, especially when climbing stairs or upon standing up
• Fainting-often the symptom that brings people to their doctors
• Swollen ankles and legs
• Chest pain, especially during physical activity

To diagnosis PH, a series of tests are performed that show how well a person's heart and lungs are working. These tests may include:

• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Right heart catheterization
• Six-minute walk test
• Assessment of function in tasks of daily living

PH is a chronic condition that can become life-threatening. Although there is no cure, there are several treatments available, and patients have more options than ever before.

The PH program was developed to serve the New York Metropolitan area, which has a significant number of patients affected by this disease. At St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals, we are dedicated to providing the latest treatment and support services.

Our team approach includes physicians, nurses and physical therapists — all with special training in PH.

Call (212) 523-5471 for more information.