Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, commonly referred to as PPH, is caused by an increased pressure within the pulmonary arteries which carry blood from your heart to your lungs. This eventually leads to the thickening of the arteries and narrowing of the arterial passageways, which further obstruct the flow of blood.



In an effort to compensate for poor circulation, the right side of your heart becomes enlarged, and the extra work the heart must do can eventually cause right-sided heart failure. Primary Pulmonary Hypertension complications can occur in the form of liver failure, kidney failure, or heart failure.

While the specific cause of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension is not known, there are a variety of causes which have been found to contribute to Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. One of these is the appetite suppressant known as Fen-Phen, which has been shown to constrict or narrow the pulmonary artery.

Fen-Phen was prescribed as a weight loss drug in the 1960s, and it is estimated that over 20 million people were found to use Fen-Phen in their weight loss treatment. However, due to an overwhelming occurrence of abnormal echocardiograms, the FDA was forced to take the drug Fen-Phen off the market in 1997.

Studies commenced regarding the use of Fen-Phen as it related to Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, and it was found that there was a direct relationship between this drug and vascular heart disease and Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. Unfortunately, even though patients stopped taking the diet drug Fen-Phen, they were already marked for developing this disease.

Medical experts have noted that there was a potential latency of ten or more years between the last date on which the patient was exposed to the drug Fen-Phen and the time at which the patient developed the first symptoms of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. Thus, cases of PPH continue to occur today in those people who had taken Fen-Phen alone or in combination with other weight loss drugs.

Moreover, there have been a myriad of lawsuits against the drug company, and many patients have sought a Primary Pulmonary Hypertension lawyer who specializes in this specific area to seek compensation for, and as a result of, PPH complications which occurred.

It is revealed that women are five times more likely than men to develop PPH. While there are often no symptoms of this disease until the condition is advanced, the main symptom is swollen ankles. In addition, your skin may have a bluish tinge because the blood contains less oxygen that it should.

The low oxygen content of the blood stimulates the production of more red blood cells. When the red cell count becomes too great, the blood becomes thicker and harder to push through the small vessels of the lung, further increasing the pulmonary artery blood pressure and decreasing the cardiac output.

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension complications can cause right-sided heart failure. If you have been experiencing breathlessness because of underlying lung disease, PPH is likely to make you even more breathless, and you may also experience other symptoms associated with right-sided heart failure.

One of the symptoms of right-sided heart failure is fatigue and swelling of the lowest part of your body from accumulation of fluid. Some of the signs you should look for is if you are up and about, your ankles may swell. If you are bedridden, the swelling will be most noticeable in the lower part of your back.

Internal organs such as the liver can also become swollen, and this can result in abdominal pain. Additional Primary Pulmonary Hypertension complications can occur in the form of congestive heart failure, which is when both the right and left side of the heart fail.

If you were prescribed Fen-Phen for weight loss, and are now exhibiting symptoms of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, you should contact a PPH lawyer. You are entitled to seek damages by utilizing the services of a PPH lawyer. If either you or someone you know has suffered damages related to the use of Fen-Phen, including Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, it is important to proceed with claims to recover damages with the assistance of a PPH lawyer. You can receive compensation for pain and suffering, lost earnings, medical expenses, and punitive damages.

Unfortunately, since Fen-Phen was taken off the market, there are millions of people who have reported symptoms associated with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. Make no mistake; this condition can be deadly as it affects the primary heart muscles which can lead to heart failure.

If you are suffering ill effects of the drug Fen-Phen, it is incumbent upon you to seek a pulmonary specialist who can diagnose your condition and determine the extent of PPH. It is further advised that you contact a PPH lawyer immediately.