Thanks, zuzu
From what I can find (there isn't a whole lot out there), you can either have primary or secondary pulmonary hypertension. There is a strong possibility I have secondary, (caused by an other identifiable condition) which is good--as long as they can treat the underlying cause of pulmonary hypertension.
Ever since I got my echocardiogram, ever more tests are on the horizon. . .probably because they found I have heart failure with an ejection fraction of 20%.
I suggested to the doctor that we look for sleep apnea, which can cause both heart failure and pulmonary hypertension (I knew about the first, and that's when he told me I have pulmonary hypertension!). "Oh, sleep apnea can cause pulmonary hypertension--that's what you have!". Geez, I wonder if he would have mentioned it to me if I hadn't stumbled onto it.
People with sleep apnea who have heart failure often have central sleep apnea (usually with a neurological cause)--not the same as obstructive sleep apnea. Or they can have obstructive sleep apnea, or both.
Sleep apnea is a significant cause of hypertension. There are interruptions in the breathing pattern while the person sleeps. It makes us wake up at night suddenly with a feeling of dread or a "flight or fight" response. It is very hard on the heart, as the body is flooded with adrenaline up to 100 times an hour with each cessation of breathing.
I would encourage anyone who has "rough wakenings" during the night and high blood pressure to ask your doctor about a sleep study.
Hugs,
Pam
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