Shanna Martin, Registered Nurse from Shields Health Solutions, discusses common barriers clinicians face in managing patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
PAH is a rare, progressive disorder characterized by high blood pressure (hypertension) in the arteries of the lungs (pulmonary artery). This appears to happen for no reason. The pulmonary arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from the right side of the heart through the lungs. Symptoms of PAH include dyspnea, especially during exercise, chest pain, and fainting episodes. The exact cause of PAH is unknown and although treatable, there is no known cure for the disease. PAH usually affects women between the ages of 30-60. The progressive nature of this disease means that an individual may experience only mild symptoms at first, but will eventually require treatment and medical care to maintain a reasonable quality of life.
As Ms. Martin explains, common barriers affecting the treatment of PAH include the severity of symptoms, the financial burden of the disease, delays in diagnosis, and the risk of hospitalization due to non-adherence.
To learn more about PAH, and other rare heart conditions, visit https://checkrare.com/diseases/heart-diseases/
