Diagnosing Primary Pulmonary Hypertension In Babies

Most people are not aware of it, but primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is something that can also occur in babies. Even for people who have heard of it, the correlation with babies is something that they are often very surprised about. Primary pulmonary hypertension in babies is generally from a somewhat different cause than PPH in adults. 

This is the case because primary pulmonary hypertension in babies comes from a problem with their blood vessels when they are born. When a baby is still in the womb, it does not breathe, so the lungs are not used. There is a blood vessel which bypasses the lungs and returns blood to the heart with enough oxygen to take care of the organs and tissues that the blood is then pumped to. With PPH in babies, however, that blood vessel does not close off at birth. 

When this takes place, the baby is breathing but the oxygen from the lungs is not getting into the blood stream and getting to the heart, so it cannot be pumped with the blood to the organs and tissues. Having primary pulmonary hypertension in babies can cause multiple organ failure, and can also cause these babies to die quickly if they are not treated. 

PPH in babies is something that is very serious, and it has to be caught rapidly so that these newborns can be protected and operated on if necessary. If the blood vessel can be closed off, the blood vessels in the lungs will usually take over, and the newborn can be saved. He or she can then usually go on to live a normal life. 

There are cases of primary pulmonary hypertension in babies without this blood vessel issue, and these cases are rare and surprising, having no apparent cause. However, there is a school of thought which now says that antidepressant use by the mother during pregnancy can be linked to PPH in babies, so this is something that pregnant women and doctors will want to consider. 

If this disease can be reduced by ensuring that the mother does not take antidepressants while pregnant, this is naturally an important issue. There is likely no way to stop all cases of PPH, however, because the cause can be completely random and unknown sometimes, and doctors are still looking for other likely causes.

There is a number of varying PPH symptoms as well as ways to treat it, depending on patients' medical needs. Primary pulmonary hypertension in babies can manifest hearing loss, brain abnormalities, dysfunctional development, poor eating, seizures, and anxiety. Adults may experience swelling, cyanosis, liver enlargement, neck vein distensions, fatigue, weakness, dizziness/lightheadedness, coughing blood, breath shortness, or chest pain. 

Some of these may only be detectable with a visit to a doctor using tests such as a chest X-ray, an echocardiogram, or cardiac catheterization. Possible treatments include calcium channel blockers taken orally, diuretics, anticoagulants, intravenous prostacyclin, supplemental oxygen, or lung/heart-lung transplant. 

Primary pulmonary hypertension in babies as well as any other patients should be dealt with as soon as possible. Do whatever is necessary until you are fully compensated for your losses.

Nick Johnson is lead counsel with Johnson Law Group. Johnson represents plaintiffs in many states and focuses on injury cases involving Fen-Phen and PPH, Paxil, Mesothelioma, and Avandia. Call Nick Johnson at 1-888-311-5522 or visit http://www.johnsonlawgroup.com

Management of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

If you have been experiencing symptoms associated with a lung condition, you most likely have seen a PPH specialist. If a physician has diagnosed you with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, there are many things to consider, most importantly, the management of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. 

Unfortunately, at the present time, there is no cure for Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. The only treatments the PPH specialist can recommend are a series of drugs and, as a last resort, if your condition worsens, a lung transplant. While your anxiety may understandably become heightened, you have to find the strength to manage this disease. 

One of the ways in which you can achieve this is by changing your lifestyle. This would include reducing stress through meditation exercises, and developing a positive attitude. While this may be easy to say, undoubtedly it may be a lot harder to do. But if you are to survive and live a qualitative life, you need to take immediate steps to ensure your state of mind is conducive to healing.

You may be happy to know that individuals with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension still go to work, have a home business, and still take care of their families. In fact, many individuals with PPH show no signs of illness at all, and enjoy most of the time symptom free. The key is not to take on any physical activity wherein you can overdo and not realize it. 

In this regard, exercise is good therapy for individuals with PPH. A good 20 minute walk a day can make all the difference in how you feel. Moreover, if you have an advanced case of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension and need oxygen, there are portable systems which you can utilize when you go out. There are also a variety of wheelchairs and scooters which you may have seen on TV, and for which you can utilize them on a daily basis as well.

For those who prefer not to take on activities that are strenuous in nature, there are certainly a plethora of activities that you can become involved in. Whether it's gardening, or joining a local community chapter which engages in morning or afternoon activities, you can certainly fill up your time and keep your mind busy. 

For those of you who live in areas where the altitude is high, you may want to move where the oxygen level is higher, thus enabling you to breathe easier. It is also important to keep in contact with your PPH specialist, so that he or she can monitor you and see to your immediate needs.

Another way in which the management of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension can be achieved is through a proper diet regimen. Also, if you are a smoker, now is the time to quit. Ensure you get enough rest; at least 8 hours of sleep a night. 

In addition, if you are a woman of child-bearing years, and you have been diagnosed with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension by your PPH specialist, pregnancy is not an option, since it will put an additional load on the heart. Moreover, oral contraceptives are not recommended either and, therefore, other methods of birth control will have to be used.

One of the most important aspects of having Primary Pulmonary Hypertension is to become as informed as possible through your PPH specialist. Having close family and friends with you on this unfortunate journey is important as well. Check your local community to determine if there are PPH support groups. Having the ability to talk to others who have the same condition can be immeasurable. 

There is another critical factor in the management of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, and that is to ascertain how it was caused and what course of action you can take legally. After all, you have every right to sue a company who produced a drug that caused you pain and untold anxiety. 

Moreover, if you had to leave your job or take time off, this should be compensated. If you took the drug Fen-Phen, you have legal recourse. Seek a PPH attorney who specializes in this type of litigation, and be sure to take legal action against the company involved. 

If you took anti-depressants while pregnant, and your newborn has a lung condition, birth defects, or worse, you also have legal recourse to take this matter up with a PPH attorney.

The management of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension involves every aspect of your life. This includes your on-going treatment, surgery, compensation for lost earnings, punitive damages, and so on. A PPH attorney can help you. More importantly, you must allow yourself the ability to face down the cause of this disease, and live out the rest of your life in peace and tranquility.

Nick Johnson is lead counsel with Johnson Law Group. Johnson represents plaintiffs in many states and focuses on injury cases involving Fen-Phen and PPH, Paxil, Mesothelioma and Nursing Home Abuse. Call Nick Johnson at 1-888-311-5522 or visit http://www.jbclawfirm.com for a free case evaluation.