{"active_group":"All","term_list":[{"term":"ACE inhibitor","groups":["All","A"],"definition":"<p>ACE is an acronym for angiotensin converting enzyme. ACE inhibitors are blood pressure medications prescribed by your doctor to treat systemic hypertension. ACE inhibitors aren’t specific PAH therapy, they are used for systemic (“regular”) hypertension and\/or left-sided (“regular”) heart failure.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Acute vasodilator challenge","groups":["All","A"],"definition":"<p>During a right heart catheterization, your doctor may choose to administer medications to test whether your pulmonary arteries can vasodilate (relax and decrease the pulmonary artery blood pressure). A vasodilator challenge is used to help determine which medications may work best to treat your pulmonary arterial hypertension. There are specific criteria used to determine if you are “vasoreactive.”<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Angina","groups":["All","A"],"definition":"<p>Chest pain or pressure; angina usually results from not enough blood or oxygen getting to the heart muscle. Typically, angina occurs in patients with coronary artery disease, but it can affect patients with many different types of heart disease including pulmonary arterial hypertension.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Angiogram","groups":["All","A"],"definition":"<p>A type of catheterization that uses dye injected into the blood vessels to accurately evaluate whether or not the blood vessels are narrowed. Can be done for any vessel of the body.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Anticoagulant","groups":["All","A"],"definition":"<p>Commonly called blood thinners, these medications used to thin the blood and prevent new clots forming or getting larger. The medications can be given by mouth, injection or  intravenous infusion. Some common blood thinners include Coumadin, warfarin, Lovenox and heparin. Aspirin is also a blood thinner that  works by making the platelets in our blood less “sticky.” <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/treatments\/supportive-therapies\/">Read about supportive medical therapies<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Apnea","groups":["All","A"],"definition":"<p>Temporary slowing\/stopping of breathing, usually during sleep. Always abnormal and needs immediate attention. Obstructive sleep apnea is a disease that causes people to stop breathing for short periods while asleep because a part of the airway is blocked. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/what-is-ph\/related-conditions\/sleep-apnea\/">Obstructive sleep apnea<\/a> can cause pulmonary hypertension, and treatment for OSA can help PH.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Arginine","groups":["All","A"],"definition":"<p>An essential amino acid (protein building block of our bodies). Arginine is theorized to help open pulmonary arteries (vasodilate) by working with a substance called nitric oxide that is present in the pulmonary arteries.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Arterial blood gas test","groups":["All","A"],"definition":"<p>In this test, blood is taken from an artery to measure oxygen, carbon dioxide and pH levels. It is used to determine how well your lungs are working.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Ascites","groups":["All","A"],"definition":"<p>Edema, or build-up of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Can cause fullness and heaviness around your waist, causing clothing to be tighter. Can be treated with diuretics, also known as fluid pills.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Atrial fibrillation","groups":["All","A"],"definition":"<p>A rapid beat of the atrium, which typically occurs in patients with left-sided heart disease but can also occur in PAH. It is sometimes due to pulmonary diseases or fluid overload. The rapid and irregular beating of the atria results in less blood flow to the ventricles, and therefore the rest of the body, and can cause palpitations, dizziness, lightheadedness and passing out.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Atrial septal defect","groups":["All","A"],"definition":"<p>A hole in the atrial septum, the wall that separates the right and left upper chambers of the heart, the atria. The hole allows blood to communicate between these two chambers. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/ph-terms\/congenital-heart-disease-chd\/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">See congenital heart disease<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Atrial septostomy","groups":["All","A"],"definition":"<p>Surgery that creates a small hole between the two upper chambers (atria) of the heart. The procedure can relieve pressure on the right side of the heart and improve blood flow and decrease oxygen levels in the blood. Read about <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/treatments\/transplant-and-procedures\/transplant\/atrial-septostomy\/">atrial septostomy<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Atrium","groups":["All","A"],"definition":"<p>The heart is a pump that consists of four sections, known as chambers. The atria (plural form of atrium) sit above the ventricles and pump blood into the ventricles through heart valves. On the right side of the heart, the right atrium pumps blood through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. On the left side, the left atrium pumps blood through the mitral valve into the left ventricle.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Balloon angioplasty","groups":["All","B"],"definition":"<p>A procedure in which a balloon catheter is inflated inside an artery (typically a coronary artery) to increase its diameter. Learn about <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/treatments\/transplant-and-procedures\/balloon-pulmonary-angioplasty-bpa\/">balloon pulmonary angioplasty<\/a> for CTEPH.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"BiPAP machine","groups":["All","B"],"definition":"<p>Defined as bi-level positive airway pressure. It is a small machine to treat <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/what-is-ph\/related-conditions\/sleep-apnea\/">obstructive sleep apnea<\/a> and other respiratory diseases. Bi-level means that air is delivered at a specific pressure when you breathe in, while a smaller amount of pressure is maintained during exhalation. This holds the airways open to make inhalation easier on the next breath.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"BMPR2 gene","groups":["All","B"],"definition":"<p>The PH gene. Its full name is bone morphogenetic protein receptor II. Some of its mutations have been found in families who have more than one person with pulmonary arterial hypertension (<a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/what-is-ph\/group-1-pah\/heritable-pah\/">heritable PAH<\/a>). It also can be found in some people with no known family history of the disease (sporadic PAH).<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Bradycardia","groups":["All","B"],"definition":"<p>A slow heartbeat, generally less than 55 to 60 beats per minute.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Bronchiolitis obliterans","groups":["All","B"],"definition":"<p>A disease of the lung tissue (small bronchial tubes and alveoli), not the blood vessels, usually from an unknown toxic exposure, infection and in chronic rejection after lung transplantation.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Calcium channel blockers","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>Blood pressure medicines for systemic hypertension. Calcium channel blocker have been found to decrease pulmonary artery pressures in a small percentage of people with PH. Be aware that only certain PAH patients benefit from CCBs; in others, CCBs can do a lot of harm. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/treatments\/supportive-therapies\/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Read about supportive medical therapies.<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n"},{"term":"Cardiac catheterization","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>The definitive final diagnostic test performed to determine if a patient has pulmonary hypertension. Until a right-heart catheterization is performed, a diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension cannot be made. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/diagnosis\/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Read more about diagnositic tests<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"Cardiac output","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>The total amount of blood the heart pumps per minute. In a healthy person this is about 5 to 6 liters per minute; in someone with severe PH it can be as low as 2 to 3 liters or less. (A human has about 5 liters [roughly 5.3 quarts] of blood inside of their arteries at any one time.)<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Cardiopulmonary","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>Related to the heart and lungs.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Cardiopulmonary exercise testing","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>A way of determining cardiac and pulmonary function by measuring lung gas (oxygen and carbon dioxide) exchange efficiency. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/diagnosis\/testing-for-ph\/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Read more about common tests for PH.<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"Catheter","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>A hollow flexible tube that is inserted into a body cavity, duct or vessel to allow the passage of fluids. There are many types of catheters, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A catheter placed in a central vein called a central line or Hickman catheter, Broviac catheter or PICC line. A surgeon inserts one end of a central line into a vein and moves it to a larger (central) vein leading to your heart. For PAH, catheters typically are used to administer intravenous medications, including epoprostenol or <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/patients\/resources\/glossary-of-ph-terms\/#Treprostinil">treprostinil<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>A subcutaneous catheter is a smaller flexible tube placed just under the skin in the fat tissue of the body to deliver medications. These catheters are usually inserted by a patient or caregiver.<\/li>\n<li>A diagnostic catheter is a thin, hollow tube used to measure pressures in the heart and blood vessels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/living-with-ph\/managing-your-health\/medication-management\/catheter-care\/">Learn best practices for catheter care<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Centers for Disease Control","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>A U.S. government agency that tracks all medical diseases to help with prevention and treatment of disease. The CDC publishes a weekly bulletin called Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which helps establish how many patients are afflicted with certain diagnoses.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>A chronic disease characterized by difficulty in breathing due to over inflation of the lung sacs and\/or constriction of the tubes leading to the air sacs. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/what-is-ph\/related-conditions\/copd\/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Learn more about COPD.<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>CTEPH is caused by old blood clots in the lungs, called pulmonary embolisms. Most blood clots dissolve with treatment using blood thinners. But in some people, clots remain and cause lasting damage. In these cases, clots block the blood vessels in the lungs. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/what-is-ph\/group-4-chronic-thromboembolic-pulmonary-hypertension\/">Learn more about CTEPH<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Cirrhosis","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>A buildup of fiber-like tissue (scarring) in the liver, usually due to chronic liver disease. Cirrhosis is the most common cause of portal pulmonary hypertension, which is increased blood pressure in the portal veins that transport blood from the intestines to the liver. Read more about <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/what-is-ph\/related-conditions\/liver-disease\/">PH related to liver disease<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Congenital heart disease","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>A defect of the heart present at birth. The defects can be simple holes in the heart or much more complex defects.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Connective tissue disease","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>Disorders affecting joints (muscles, bones, tendons, cartilage) and solid organs of the body. Connective tissue disease can result from an autoimmune (immune system in your body turns against itself) or genetic process (inherited disease). Types associated with PH include <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/what-is-ph\/related-conditions\/lupus\/">lupus<\/a>, <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/what-is-ph\/related-conditions\/scleroderma\/">scleroderma<\/a>, rheumatoid arthritis and mixed connective tissue disease.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Cor pulmonale","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>Enlargement of the right ventricle of the heart, which can be caused by pulmonary hypertension. Consists of symptoms of right side heart failure and fluid overload.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"CPAP","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>A small machine provides continuous positive airway pressure to treat obstructive sleep apnea and other respiratory diseases. In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway is “obstructed” due to a patient’s size or changes in the airway anatomy that cause airways to collapse during sleep. The CPAP helps hold open the airways.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"CREST syndrome","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>CREST is an acronym for calcinosis, Raynaud’s syndrome, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly and telangiectasia. CREST is a form of <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/what-is-ph\/related-conditions\/scleroderma\/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scleroderma<\/a> that causes calcium deposits in the skin, Raynaud’s phenomenon, esophageal involvement, swollen fingers with tight skin and reddened\/discolored skin from by blood vessels. Patients with CREST syndrome are known to have a greater risk for developing pulmonary hypertension.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"CT or CAT scan","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p><span data-contrast="none">A CT chest scan is a non-invasive test that uses radiation to create many precise pictures of the structures in the chest, including the heart and lungs. A dye is sometimes injected into the arm (i.e., a contrast) to make the images clearer.<\/span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559738":264,"335559739":36,"335559740":240}"> <\/span><span data-contrast="none">The test allows health care providers to see the lungs in far greater detail than with chest x-rays. Doctors can see the size of the lungs, larger blood vessels in the lungs and lung tissue. The test looks for evidence of chronic lung diseases (<a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/what-is-ph\/group-3-lung-disease-hypoxia\/">Group 3 PH<\/a>).<\/span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559738":264,"335559739":36,"335559740":240}"><a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/diagnosis\/testing-for-ph\/#group"> Learn about tests for PH<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"term":"Cyanosis","groups":["All","C"],"definition":"<p>A bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin and mucus membranes caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood. It is often seen in the nails, face, lips and tongue.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Deep vein thrombosis","groups":["All","D"],"definition":"<p>Formation of a blood clot in the veins deep in the body, most typically in the lower leg or thigh.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Diastole","groups":["All","D"],"definition":"<p>The period when the heart is relaxing and filling with blood. Diastolic pressure is the bottom, lower number in your blood pressure.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Digoxin","groups":["All","D"],"definition":"<p>A medication used to treat many heart conditions. It may help a weak heart muscle squeeze better. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/treatments\/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Read more about medical therapies.<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"Dilate","groups":["All","D"],"definition":"<p>To relax, expand.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Diuretic","groups":["All","D"],"definition":"<p>Diuretics, such as furosemide, torsemide and spironolactone, eliminate excess fluid that puts pressure on the heart. Read about <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/treatments\/supportive-therapies\/">supportive medical therapies<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Dyspnea","groups":["All","D"],"definition":"<p>Labored breathing; shortness of breath.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Echocardiogram","groups":["All","E"],"definition":"<p>A test that uses moving pictures produced by ultrasonic waves (sound waves, or ultrasound) bounced off your heart to show its structures and functioning. The echocardiogram also estimates the pressures on the right side of the heart, which may help in the diagnosis and treatment of PAH. The pictures are produced in the same way a fetal ultrasound shows a baby in the mother’s womb. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/diagnosis\/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Read more about diagnositic tests<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"Edema","groups":["All","E"],"definition":"<p>Swelling caused by fluid in your body’s tissues. It usually occurs in the feet, ankles and legs, but it can occur in your entire body.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Eisenmenger syndrome","groups":["All","E"],"definition":"<p>A syndrome that results from a birth defect where a hole in the heart that originally caused red, oxygenated blood to go from the left side of the heart to the right side of the heart and back to the lungs before it had a chance to be pumped to the body. After some time, this extra blood flow to the lungs damages the pulmonary arteries and PAH occurs. Over time, as the resistance in the lung arteries increases due to this damage, blue blood begins to skip going to the lungs and goes straight to the left side of the heart where it is pumped back to the body. See <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/ph-terms\/congenital-heart-disease-chd\/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">congenital heart disease<\/a> and <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/ph-terms\/cyanosis\/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">cyanosis<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Electrocardiogram","groups":["All","E"],"definition":"<p>Also known as an EKG or ECG, aAn image produced by a device that records the electrical activity of the heart. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/patients\/diagnosis\/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Read more about diagnositic tests.<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"Emphysema","groups":["All","E"],"definition":"<p>A type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease involving damage to the air sacs in the lungs. Learn more about <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/what-is-ph\/related-conditions\/copd\/">COPD and PH<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Endothelin","groups":["All","E"],"definition":"<p>A chemical made by the endothelium. It causes smooth muscles in a blood vessel’s walls to tighten. People with PAH have too much endothelin in their blood. Learn more about PH <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/treatments\/targeted-therapies\/">treatment pathway<\/a>s.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Endothelin receptor antagonist","groups":["All","E"],"definition":"<p>A class of drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. These medications block endothelin from attaching to the endothelium receptors located in the smooth muscle cells of the pulmonary arteries, which prevents the vessels from tightening up\/constricting and helps lower the pulmonary artery pressures. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/patients\/treatments\/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Read more about treatment options.<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"Endothelium","groups":["All","E"],"definition":"<p>The one-cell thick lining of the blood, lymph channels and the heart. Endothelial cells produce lots of chemical compounds that normally make blood vessel walls relax and dilate. In PAH there is an abnormality in the endothelium, which can result in the blood vessels’ inability to relax and dilate. Abnormalities with the endothelium are one possible cause of <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/what-is-ph\/group-1-pah\/">pulmonary arterial hypertension<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Enzymes","groups":["All","E"],"definition":"<p>Organic substances made by cells that can act inside or outside of cells to control the rate of chemical reactions without the substance being changed themselves (an enzyme can help the same process along over and over).<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Epidemiology","groups":["All","E"],"definition":"<p>The study of illness in the population.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Etiology","groups":["All","E"],"definition":"<p>The cause of something, such as a disease.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Familial pulmonary arterial hypertension","groups":["All","F"],"definition":"<p>Old name for heritable (inherited) pulmonary arterial hypertension. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/patients\/aboutph\/genetic-pah\/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Read more about heritable PH<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"Fibrin","groups":["All","F"],"definition":"<p>The insoluble protein end product of blood coagulation, formed from fibrinogen by the action of thrombin in the presence of calcium ions. Thrombin acts on fibrinogen to form this insoluble protein called fibrin. (Part of the blood coagulation process.)<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Fibrosis","groups":["All","F"],"definition":"<p>Occurs when inflammation or other irritants cause a build-up of fiber-like tissue (scarring).<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Flolan","groups":["All","F"],"definition":"<p>The first FDA-approved intravenous treatment for PAH, no longer manufactured as of 2025. Flolan is a brand name for epoprostenol. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/patients\/treatments\/epoprostenol\/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Read more about epoprostenol.<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"Functional class","groups":["All","F"],"definition":"<p>A scale designed that defines the severity of symptoms PH and how they limit a person’s daily activities. There are four <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/diagnosis\/risk-assessment\/">functional classes<\/a> that define symptom severity and physical limitations: Class I having no symptoms to Class IV in which symptoms occur at rest.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n"},{"term":"Gaucher\u2019s disease","groups":["All","G"],"definition":"<p>A genetic disease caused by a deficiency in the GBCase enzyme that causes a fatty substance to build up in certain organs. When fatty cells accumulate in the lungs, PH can develop.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Hemodynamics","groups":["All","H"],"definition":"<p>The pressure measurements obtained during the right and left <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/diagnosis\/right-heart-catheterization\/">heart catheterization<\/a>. Typically, in PH, hemodynamics refers to pulmonary blood pressures, cardiac output and the calculation of pulmonary resistance, which is a combination of both the pulmonary artery pressure and the cardiac output.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension","groups":["All","H"],"definition":"<p>This term is used when the BMPR2 gene has been identified and\/or there is a family history of pulmonary hypertension. It previously was called familial pulmonary arterial hypertension. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/patients\/aboutph\/genetic-pah\/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Read more about heritable PH<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"Hickman catheter","groups":["All","H"],"definition":"<p>An intravenous line used to administer medication.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)","groups":["All","H"],"definition":"<p>An infection that causes the immune system to fail and makes the body prone to infectious organisms that typically would not cause infections. Patients with HIV infection can develop PAH at a rate higher than the general population. The reason is unknown. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/patients\/aboutph\/diseases-and-conditions-associated-with-ph\/hiv\/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Read more about HIV and PH<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"Hypertension","groups":["All","H"],"definition":"<p>Abnormally high blood pressure.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Hypotension","groups":["All","H"],"definition":"<p>Abnormally low blood pressure.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Hypoxemia","groups":["All","H"],"definition":"<p>A low concentration of oxygen in the blood. This condition can make the pulmonary vessels contract and raise pulmonary artery pressure.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Hypoxia","groups":["All","H"],"definition":"<p>A low concentration of oxygen in the air that is breathed, such as occurs aboard an airliner or high on a mountain.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Idiopathic","groups":["All","I"],"definition":"<p>A medical term that means a disease that has no known underlying cause.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension","groups":["All","I"],"definition":"<p>Formerly called primary pulmonary hypertension. It means pulmonary arterial hypertension where the cause is unknown. It is very rare, with an incidence of approximately 2 to 5 per million worldwide. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/patients\/aboutph\/types-of-ph\/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Read more about types of PH<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"International normalized range (INR) level","groups":["All","I"],"definition":"<p>A blood test used to determine how long it takes your blood to clot (how thin the blood is). It is used to determine how much Coumadin\/warfarin to prescribe to a patient to help keep the blood thin.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Intravenous","groups":["All","I"],"definition":"<p>Literally “inside the vein.” Used to administer fluids or medications via catheter or a needle placed into the vein. An intravenous administration is called an infusion.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Ischemia","groups":["All","I"],"definition":"<p>A localized, temporary reduction in blood flow resulting in tissue\/organ damage. In cardiac ischemia, blocked blood flow results in chest pain and can result in a heart attack. Ischemia can happen in any organ\/tissue of the body.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival","groups":["All","K"],"definition":"<p>A statistical technique that allows researchers to estimate survival in research studies.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Left heart catheterization","groups":["All","L"],"definition":"<p>Left heart catheterization is similar to a <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/diagnosis\/right-heart-catheterization\/">right heart catheterization<\/a>, except the catheter is placed into an artery, usually the femoral artery in the groin. A doctor moves the catheter into the left side of the heart to measure pressure in the aorta and left ventricle. These measurements can indicate the presence of a disease related to the structure and\/or function of the left side of the heart.<\/p>\n<p><a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/what-is-ph\/group-2-left-heart-disease\/">Left heart disease<\/a> is the most common cause of PH in the developed world. It can result from smoking, high cholesterol or high systemic blood pressure, which predispose people to heart attacks. Or it can result from problems related to the structure and function of the heart valves in the left side of the heart (mitral and aortic valves), or  a problem with the heart muscle itself (cardiomyopathy).<\/p>\n<p>Left heart catheterizations sometimes use contrast dye to look at the blood vessels supplying the heart (coronary angiogram). Occasionally, your doctor may advise you to have a right and left heart catheterization to help make a diagnosis and to guide treatment.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n"},{"term":"Lesion","groups":["All","L"],"definition":"<p>An area of diseased or injured tissue.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Lupus","groups":["All","L"],"definition":"<p>Also know as systemic lupus erythematous. Learn about <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/what-is-ph\/related-conditions\/lupus\/">PH related to lupus<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Magnetic resonance imaging","groups":["All","M"],"definition":"<p>An MRI is an imaging technique that uses a strong magnetic field and low-energy radio waves to make pictures of the inside of the body. MRI images usually have great detail and can allow doctors to make some diagnoses much more easily. For PH, MRIs can capture better pictures of the heart, heart valves and functioning of the heart than an echocardiogram. Sometimes used with radiopaque dye, known as a contrast agent. <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/pulmonary-hypertension\/diagnosis\/testing-for-ph\/">Read more about common PH tests<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Mean pulmonary artery pressure","groups":["All","M"],"definition":"<p>A measurement calculated using the upper (systolic) and lower (diastolic) numbers of the pulmonary artery pressure. <a href="#Pulmonary%20artery%20pressure" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">See also pulmonary artery pressure<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute","groups":["All","N"],"definition":"<p>A government institute that is part of the National Institutes of Health. The NHLBI coordinates basic research, clinical investigations and trials, observational studies and education projects related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung and blood diseases, as well as sleep disorders. PHA interacts with the NHLBI through the agency’s Public Interest Organizations group. <a href="http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/" target="NHLBI" rel="noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Learn more about the NHLBI<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"National Institutes of Health","groups":["All","N"],"definition":"<p>The National Institutes of Health, a part or NIH, is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, whose mission is “to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.” <a href="http:\/\/www.nih.gov\/" target="NIH" rel="noopener" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Learn more about NIH<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"term":"PH gene","groups":["All","P"],"definition":"<p>BMPR2. Its full name is bone morphogenetic protein receptor II. Some of its mutations have been found in families that have more than one member with pulmonary arterial hypertension (heritable PAH) and in some patients with no known family history of the disease (sporadic PAH). <a href="https:\/\/phassociation.org\/patients\/aboutph\/genetic-pah\/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="['60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421'],60aeeaf98b4ce2564f9cb421">Read more about heritable PH.<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n"},{"term":"Pulmonary artery","groups":["All","P"],"definition":"<p>The blood vessels carrying blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs, where the blood is oxygenated. It starts with the main pulmonary artery, then branches into the right and left pulmonary arteries feeding the right and left lungs, then continues to branch into smaller and smaller blood vessels, eventually becoming capillaries.<\/p>\n"},{"term":"Pulmonary artery pressure","groups":["All","P"],"definition":"<p>A measurement of blood pressure in the pulmonary artery measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Normal pulmonary artery pressure is between 8-20 mmHg at rest. Pulmonary hypertension occurs when the pressure in the pulmonary artery is greater than 20 mmHg at rest or 30 mmHg when active.<\/p>\n"}],"group_list":[{"key":"All","active":true},{"key":"A","active":false},{"key":"B","active":false},{"key":"C","active":false},{"key":"D","active":false},{"key":"E","active":false},{"key":"F","active":false},{"key":"G","active":false},{"key":"H","active":false},{"key":"I","active":false},{"key":"J","active":false},{"key":"K","active":false},{"key":"L","active":false},{"key":"M","active":false},{"key":"N","active":false},{"key":"O","active":false},{"key":"P","active":false},{"key":"Q","active":false},{"key":"R","active":false},{"key":"S","active":false},{"key":"T","active":false},{"key":"U","active":false},{"key":"V","active":false},{"key":"W","active":false},{"key":"X","active":false},{"key":"Y","active":false},{"key":"Z","active":false}],"keyword":"Pulmonary artery pressure","heading":"","intro_text":"<p>Choose a letter from the A-Z menu and browse insurance terms by their starting letter. Or, use the search bar to quickly find specific terms.<\/p>\n<p>An abbreviated form of this glossary appears in “Navigating Pulmonary Hypertension: A Guide for Patients and Families.”<\/p>\n","resource_strings":{"results":{"plural":"Showing %n results","singular":"Showing %n result"},"search":{"placeholder":"Enter a search term","submit":"Search","clear":"Clear"}}}