Living with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) can make everyday tasks and activities challenging. PAH affects many aspects of daily life, from basic activities like getting around and showering to more complex situations like traveling by air. Understanding pulmonary hypertension self-care strategies is essential for managing the condition effectively.

Members of myPHteam often seek advice on how to live with pulmonary hypertension. “Tired … every day. Suggestions?” one member asked. “Every day is a struggle,” another member wrote.

Fortunately, there are some tips that can help people with PAH in their daily lives. This article offers some of those suggestions, including tried-and-true advice from others who are living with PAH.

1. Use a Walker To Get Around More Easily

PAH can have a significant impact on physical mobility, a topic myPHteam members frequently discuss. Some members find using a walker makes shopping and other daily activities easier.

“I take my walker with me everywhere. I finally broke down and bought a three-wheeled walker to use when I know I’m just going in and coming right back out of stores,” one member wrote.

“Went to Walmart today and took my walker so I could sit down when I needed to,” another member shared.

2. Practice Pursed-Lip Breathing When Tackling Stairs

Climbing stairs can also be difficult for people living with PAH. “The stairs are a killer, and I avoid them as much as possible,” a member said.

One member recommended a technique called pursed-lip breathing, which helps slow breathing and can relieve shortness of breath. “Have you tried pursed-lip breathing? I find it helps when I am walking, going up stairs, or just being busy and in a hurry,” they wrote. “Breathe in through your nose and breathe out through your mouth with your lips pursed together. I find my endurance is much better when I do that, and it allows a better exchange of air.”

"Have you tried pursed-lip breathing? I find it helps when I am walking, going up stairs, or just being busy and in a hurry."
— A myPHteam member

Another member agreed: “Practice your pursed-lip breathing. It really does help with your oxygen saturation!”

3. Avoid Long, Hot Showers

For people with PAH, something as ordinary as taking a shower can be difficult. Long, hot showers or baths increase the risk of lowering blood pressure to a potentially life-threatening level. As part of pulmonary hypertension self-care, it’s important to adapt your bathing routine for safety and comfort.

Some myPHteam members have shared suggestions to reduce the risks. “Humidity is hard on us! Cool showers work,” a member said. One added, “My doctors advised me to take cooler showers, as hot showers can lower blood pressure and cause you to pass out. I miss my hot showers, but I’m glad I am still able to take a shower by myself.”

“I get bad anxiety when taking a shower or bath. I have to have a window cracked open or a small fan on,” another member offered.

Talk to your pulmonologist (a doctor who specializes in treating the lungs) about other ways you can safely and comfortably shower or bathe. They can help you with common questions like, “Can you wear oxygen in the shower?” and offer tips on safe oxygen use. Be sure to also ask your pulmonologist about how to raise your blood pressure in a hurry, including if and when that would be necessary.

4. Breathe Easier With an Oxygen Concentrator While Flying

For people living with PAH, air travel requires careful planning and preparation. Understanding how pulmonary hypertension and flying interact is crucial for safe travel. “I can still travel and enjoy it with some limitations. My portable oxygen concentrator makes it possible,” a myPHteam member wrote.

An oxygen concentrator pulls oxygen from the air and filters out nitrogen so your body receives higher oxygen levels. These devices are available only by prescription for certain types of lung diseases, such as pulmonary hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Researchers recommend people with PAH discuss their travel plans with their doctor well in advance. It’s particularly important to get medical advice before flying with pulmonary hypertension if you need supplemental oxygen or use a pump for medication, as blood pressure and flying can present unique challenges for people with PAH.

One member shared, “I have idiopathic PAH, and I fly with oxygen. I have a portable travel oxygen concentrator that I use when flying and in the elevator when my oxygen saturation drops.”

It’s particularly important to get medical advice before flying with PAH if you need supplemental oxygen or use a pump for medication.

5. Cut Back on Salt and Fluids To Reduce Leg and Foot Swelling

People with PAH may experience edema, or swollen feet and legs, due to fluid retention. Health experts recommend people with PAH reduce their intake of sodium (salt) and fluids to help prevent fluid retention and the swelling PAH causes. Sodium is found in a variety of foods, including sweets, fruit drinks, and canned vegetables. You can learn more about reducing salt and fluids in this video from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

“Fluid gain is our worst nightmare! Read your labels! Sodium is in everything! Try to keep your feet elevated when you sit down. If you have support stockings, wear them during the day when you’re up,” stressed one member.

Members of myPHteam often talk about their strategies for preventing and reducing swelling. “When I see the swelling start, I get up and start walking around, which usually curtails the swelling,” a member said.

“I use the tube stocking they put on you just before they put on a cast. It works better than all those other stockings for me. My toes are free, and it covers up to my knees,” another member wrote.

6. Equip Yourself for Weather Changes

When temperatures get too warm or too cold, people with PAH can have difficulty catching their breath. Weather management is an important part of living with pulmonary hypertension. One member had this advice: “With the increased temps and humidity, my shortness of breath is also increased. Trying to do more breathing exercises and keeping an inhaler on me! This is such a learning process!”

Another member offered a tip for managing cold weather with PAH: “When the weather gets down into the teens and low 20s, I will usually wear a medical face mask to keep the frost and fog out of my lungs.”

Typical weather conditions, like temperature, rainfall, and humidity, are factors some may consider when thinking about the best place to live with pulmonary hypertension, but PAH symptoms don’t need to dictate where you live. Talk to your pulmonologist about ways to manage PAH symptoms given challenging weather so you’re prepared.

7. Sleep More Soundly With a CPAP Device

People with PAH have higher rates of sleep-related breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea, which can disturb sleeping patterns. In a small study from 2024, researchers found that 64 percent of participants with PAH experience poor sleep quality. A poor night’s sleep can take a significant toll on your energy and well-being.

“I’ve noticed a lot of us have insomnia and need to take naps to get through the day,” a myPHteam member wrote.

“I can never sleep more than three hours at a time! It affects everything — breathing, fatigue, mood!” another member lamented.

Studies show people with heart failure and sleep apnea can improve their sleep with the use of continuous positive airway pressure — or CPAP — devices. “I use the CPAP with oxygen because of my PAH,” wrote one member. “I can’t sleep without it.”

8. Don’t Overdo It

Sometimes, it’s just too hard to keep up with plans with friends or family members when living with PAH. Members of myPHteam have shared pulmonary hypertension self-care tips to help avoid taking on too much.

“If I plan things or have an appointment or social event, I always make sure I say this one thing that is sort of the ‘get out of jail free’ card in a Monopoly game: ‘I will do my best to be there, but if for some reason I don’t feel well, then I will let you know. I never know when I will get sick, but if I am sick, then we can reschedule,’” shared one member. “This is the best way to reduce stress and anxiety levels associated with living with PAH.”

Another member had this advice: “There are going to be plenty of up days and down days. Please do not overdo it on your up days because you will wind up paying for it for a day or two afterward. Please try to pace yourself in a way that suits you so you will have more up days than down.”

Having the right medical team is also essential, a member wrote: “This disease is not curable, but it is treatable. My first thought is you really need a pulmonologist and cardiologist who understand and treat this disease.”

Work may pose a challenge when you’re trying not to overdo it. If you’re asking yourself, “Can I work with pulmonary hypertension?” be sure to talk to your pulmonologist about managing PAH while at work and when it might be time to scale back.

9. Find the Right Diet and Exercise Plan for You

Maintaining a healthy weight and getting an appropriate amount of exercise can have numerous physical and mental health benefits for people with PAH. However, people with the condition are sometimes uncertain about where to start making healthy lifestyle changes.

“I am losing weight slowly by eating five small meals a day on a cake-size plate. I also drink a lot of water for hydration. So far, so good for me,” one myPHteam member shared about healthy eating with PAH.

Another member advised, “A dietitian can help you regulate your diet so you can get on to better things.”

Finding the right exercises can also be challenging. One member recommended a pulmonary rehabilitation program. “I went to pulmonary rehab this morning. They put me on a heart monitor. They start you out slowly,” they explained. “I rode a stationary bike and did the treadmill for 10 minutes each.”

“Do some mindful breathing. Find a slow yoga class online,” another member recommended.

One member wrote about an app they use to stay fit: “I just started an exercise program for all my lung problems. It’s an app I have on my iPad, and I mirror it on my TV. It covers breathing, balance, walking, meditation — all pretty easy, and I can do it at my own pace.”

Be sure to ask your doctor about what kind of exercise may be right for you to help you avoid worsening PAH symptoms. Your healthcare provider can give you a referral for a physical therapist who can work with you to find an appropriate level of physical activity.

PAH and Its Effects on Daily Life

A type of pulmonary hypertension, PAH is a rare medical condition. Specifically, it’s a heart and pulmonary disease that causes blood vessels in the lungs to become blocked, narrowed, or destroyed. This can result in high blood pressure in the lungs. In people with PAH, the right side of the heart works harder than the left side to pump blood through damaged pulmonary blood vessels, which can weaken and damage the heart muscle and lead to heart failure.

PAH symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, and swelling in the legs, ankles, and abdomen.

There are several subtypes of PAH, including:

• Idiopathic PAH, which has no identifiable cause
• Heritable PAH, which is associated with a family history of the condition
• Associated PAH, which is linked to other health conditions, such as congenital heart disease, connective tissue disease, liver disease, and HIV

There is currently no cure for PAH, but treatment plans can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Moreover, incorporating the above life hacks may make daily life with this condition easier. Talk to your doctor about which PAH treatment may be right for you.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myPHteam, the social network for people with pulmonary arterial hypertension and their loved ones, more than 56,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with PAH.

Are you living with PAH? Do you have any tips for making daily life with PAH easier? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.