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Real members of myPHteam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Pulmonary hypertension onset and diagnosis

A myPHteam Member asked a question 💭
Denver, CO

Has anyone noticed that for a rare disease process there are a lot of RNs here that have been diagnosed. Not sure what the correlation would be, but it is a interesting concept. I too was an RN for a few years and did everything from PET(emergency psych) to trauma (tncc cert) .

July 24, 2023
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A myPHteam Member

I, too, have been an RN for over 60 years and , there was a time in the 'dark ages of medicine (1960s) when amphetamine was used for cramps and as an anti-depressant and there was a weight loss medicine used in the80s that may have contributed to this diagnosis for me. In the meantime, it is progressive and respond to treating all my symptoms.

August 24, 2024
myPHteam

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can be challenging to diagnose. Here are some key points from the knowledge base:

- Early Detection: Signs of PH are unlikely to be detected during a regular physical exam
- Misdiagnosis: Symptoms of PH are often missed or misinterpreted as other lung or heart diseases.
- Diagnosis Timeline: It Show Full Answer

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can be challenging to diagnose. Here are some key points from the knowledge base:

- Early Detection: Signs of PH are unlikely to be detected during a regular physical exam.
- Misdiagnosis: Symptoms of PH are often missed or misinterpreted as other lung or heart diseases.
- Diagnosis Timeline: It can take years to diagnose PH correctly. For idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, it took almost four years on average from the onset of first symptoms to diagnosis.
- Specialists Involved: PH is usually diagnosed and treated by specialists such as pulmonologists, cardiologists, and rheumatologists.

Diagnostic Process:
- Medical History: Doctors will ask about symptoms, family history, medications, and drug use.
- Physical Exam: Includes listening to the heart and lungs, and checking for swelling or skin color changes.
- Tests:
- Chest X-rays
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Right-heart catheterization
- Lung function tests
- Blood tests
- CT or MRI scans
- Sleep study (polysomnography) if a sleep-related issue is suspected

Challenges:
- Multiple Visits: People with symptoms often visit primary care providers and specialists multiple times before being diagnosed.
- Slow Progression: Symptoms may not show up early and can progress slowly, complicating timely diagnosis.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the articles on myPHteam:
- [Pulmonary Hypertension – The Path to Diagnosis](https://www.myPHteam.com/resources/pulmonary-hy...)
- [Pulmonary Hypertension vs. Hypertension](https://www.myPHteam.com/resources/pulmonary-hy...)
- [5 Facts About Pulmonary Hypertension That Aren't Well Known](https://www.myPHteam.com/resources/5-facts-abou...)

July 18, 2024
A myPHteam Member

I'm a retired RN diagnosed with both Sjogren's and PAH. I've noticed there are a lot of nurses not only on this site but the Sjogren's online support group site too. I agree with @A myPHteam Member, stress is probably one of the root causes. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if all the contagions, chemicals, etc we're exposed to aren't part of the cause too.

July 24, 2023
A myPHteam Member

I've been in healthcare since I was 18. I'm now 73 and diagnosed less than a year ago after a travel assignment.
I believe stress contributed to my PAH. It's not a nurse only thing.

July 24, 2023

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