How does left heart failure from left bundle branch block and HFpEF affect pulmonary arterial hypertension, and why does HFpEF cause shortness of breath?
When you have pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), your pulmonary arteries become thick and narrow, making it harder for blood to flow between your heart and lungs Show Full Answer
How does left heart failure from left bundle branch block and HFpEF affect pulmonary arterial hypertension, and why does HFpEF cause shortness of breath?
When you have pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), your pulmonary arteries become thick and narrow, making it harder for blood to flow between your heart and lungs. This creates high blood pressure in your lungs and forces the right side of your heart to work much harder to pump blood through these narrowed vessels.
Over time, this extra workload can weaken the right side of your heart, potentially leading to right-sided heart failure. The connection between your heart and lungs means that problems on either side can affect the other.
Here's why you experience shortness of breath with PAH:
- Blood doesn't flow evenly through your lungs due to the narrowed pulmonary arteries
- Some areas of your lungs don't get enough blood to pick up oxygen properly
- Your body receives less oxygen-rich blood overall
- Even though your lungs are taking in air, the poor blood flow prevents efficient oxygen exchange
This lack of oxygen makes you feel breathless, even during activities that didn't cause problems before. In early stages, you might only notice shortness of breath during exercise or climbing stairs. As PAH progresses, you may feel short of breath during normal daily activities or even at rest.
A myPHteam member shared: "I get short of breath when bending over to pick something up."
If you're experiencing worsening shortness of breath, especially at rest or while lying down, it's important to check in with your doctor as this can signal disease progression.
December 28, 2025
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