Pulmonary Hypertension

We Help You Breathe Easier

If you live with high blood pressure, you likely know it can lead to heart complications, but it can affect your lungs, too. Pulmonary hypertension happens when the arteries in your lungs narrow, making it difficult for blood to get from your heart to your lungs.

Whether your pulmonary hypertension is genetic or caused by another health condition, you can count on us for advanced therapies and compassionate care. We'll help you feel like yourself again in body, mind and spirit.

We’re here to help you find the right physician or a location that’s convenient for you.

Request an Appointment

Personalized Treatment for You

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure that occurs in the blood vessels in the lungs. It is a different measurement from the systemic blood pressure that your physician determines with an arm cuff during a normal exam. It reflects the pressure the heart must exert to pump blood through the arteries of the lungs.

Patients with pulmonary hypertension may feel extremely fatigued, dizzy and short of breath. As these are symptoms shared by other heart and lung conditions, diagnosing pulmonary hypertension often proves complex. An accurate diagnosis of the type and severity of each patient’s pulmonary hypertension is essential and should be performed under the direction of a team specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of all forms of the disease. Medications and treatment plans must be tailored to each patient’s unique diagnosis.

Services and Specialties

We offer the following services and specialties:

  • Advanced therapies for all types of pulmonary hypertension
  • Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA)
  • Collaborative care consultations
  • Collaboration with AdventHealth Lung Transplant Program
  • Clinical research trials
  • CTEPH — Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) management, including on-site surgical option (PTE)
  • Echocardiography
  • FDA pulmonary vasodilator targeted medical therapy
  • Lung transplant
  • Medical therapy
  • Participation in pulmonary hypertension clinical research trials
  • Palliative care
  • Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy
  • Pulmonary vasodilator studies
  • Right and left heart catheterization
  • SHAPE testing
  • Six-minute walk testing
  • Trans-esophageal echocardiography
  • Treatment of valvular heart disease (as it relates to pulmonary hypertension)

Not all programs are available at all locations. Please reach out to learn more about the specific programs in your area.

Medications

Your personalized treatment plan may benefit from medications that can help manage your pulmonary hypertension. These may include:

  • Remodulin intravenous, subcutaneous or oral (Orenitram)
  • Tyvaso
  • Flolan
  • Veletri
  • Riociguat
  • Sildenafil/Revatio
  • Adcirca
  • Opsumit
  • Letairis
  • Uptravi
  • Ventavis
  • Sotatercept
Surgical and Percutaneous Options

Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy (PTE)

This operation removes organized clotted blood (thrombus) from the pulmonary arteries, which supply blood to the lungs. The surgery can potentially cure a condition called chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

With CTEPH, blood clots get trapped within the walls of the arteries and develop scar tissue over time. Pressure in the lungs is high and breathing can be difficult. The blockage leads to high pressures in the arteries, eventually leading to right heart failure and damage to the lungs.

Who is eligible for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE)?

If you have CTEPH, your health care provider will examine you in order to assess your general level of health. They will also assess your breathing and the damage to your heart. The location of the blockages helps determine whether or not the surgery will be successful.

Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty (BPA)

Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty (BPA) is an emerging option for patients with CTEPH who are not eligible for surgery or who have recurrent or persistent pulmonary hypertension following PTE. An interventional cardiologist is able to open obstructed arteries using a catheter-based approach to improve blood flow through the lungs and reduce pulmonary pressures, improving heart function and relieving symptoms.

Lung Experts Who Lift Your Spirits

When you’re living with a lung health issue, you want a provider who not only understands your condition and how to treat it, but cares about your needs and goals, too. Count on our experienced pulmonary hypertension specialists to ensure your comfort and lift your spirits at every step of your treatment.

Find a Pulmonary Hypertension Specialist

Our Expert Team, Dedicated to You

Stacy Allison Mandras, MD

Stacy Mandras, MD

Advanced Heart Failure Transplant Cardiologist, Medical Director, Pulmonary Hypertension and CTEPH programs

Cardiovascular Disease

Robert Duane Davis, MD

Robert Duane Davis, MD

Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Surgical Director of CTEPH Program

Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

Sula Mazimba, MD, MPH

Sula Mazimba, MD, MPH

Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology

Daniel E Rinewalt, MD

Daniel Rinewalt, MD

Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

Jason Stansberry, MD

Jason Stansberry, MD

Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease

James Tarver, MD

James Tarver, MD

Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease

Basiem Barsoum, MD

Basiem Barsoum, MD

Interventional Cardiologist for CTEPH

Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology

Rajesh A Shah, MD

Rajesh Shah, MD

Interventional Cardiologist for CTEPH

Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology

Melisa Wilson, DNP, APRN, BC

Melisa Wilson, DNP, APRN, BC

Cardiology, Critical Care Medicine

Michelle Chance, MSN, APRN, BC

Michelle Chance, MSN, APRN, BC

Family Medicine, Pulmonary Disease

Elizabeth Quintero, APRN

Elizabeth Quintero, MSN, APRN, BC

Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease

Finding Peace With the Right Team

Karen, a young mother, struggled with chronic blood clots for years until she received the diagnosis of PH. After traveling to Orlando from Miami to see the expert team at AdventHealth, she finally felt a sense of peace and hope. After a successful highly specialized lung surgery, today, she is thriving.

Your Frequently Asked Questions, Answered

  • What is pulmonary hypertension?

    Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart.

  • What is CTEPH?

    CTEPH stands for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, a rare but treatable form of high blood pressure in the lungs caused by unresolved blood clots.

    CTEPH is a serious condition in which blood clots in the lungs fail to dissolve, leading to chronic blockages and scar-like tissue in the pulmonary arteries. These blockages increase resistance to blood flow, causing high pressure in the lungs’ arteries and forcing the right side of the heart to work harder. Unlike other forms of pulmonary hypertension, CTEPH can often be treated or even cured with surgery or interventional procedures if diagnosed early.

  • What causes CTEPH?

    CTEPH typically develops after a pulmonary embolism, although some patients may have no prior history of clots. The condition arises when blood clots organize and harden, sometimes combined with scar tissue formation, narrowing or blocking the pulmonary arteries.

  • What are the risk factors for CTEPH?

    Risk factors for CTEPH include splenectomy, chronic inflammatory conditions, certain blood types, malignancy and infections. Many patients have no identifiable risk factors.

  • What are symptoms of CTEPH?

    Common symptoms of CTEPH include:

    • Chest discomfort or pressure
    • Fatigue due to the heart working harder to pump blood
    • Heart palpitations or racing
    • Lightheadedness or dizziness
    • Shortness of breath during activity or even at rest
    • Swelling in the legs, ankles or feet due to fluid buildup

    Symptoms often develop gradually and may be mistaken for other conditions, which can delay diagnosis.

  • How is CTEPH treated?

    Treatment options depend on the location and severity of the blockages:

    • Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE): Surgical removal of clots, often curative
    • Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA): Minimally invasive procedure to open narrowed arteries
    • Medications: Pulmonary hypertension drugs may be used when surgery is not possible or as adjunct therapy

    With proper management, many patients experience dramatic improvement in symptoms and quality of life.

  • What are the symptoms of pulmonary embolism?

    A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that blocks and stops blood flow to an artery in the lung.

    Pulmonary embolism symptoms can vary greatly, depending on how much of your lung is involved, the size of the clots, and whether you have underlying lung or heart disease.

    Common symptoms include:

    • A cough that may include bloody or blood-streaked mucus
    • Chest pain
    • Clammy or discolored skin, called cyanosis
    • Excessive sweating
    • Fainting
    • Fever
    • Leg pain or swelling, or both, usually in the back of the lower leg
    • Lightheadedness or dizziness
    • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
    • Shortness of breath

  • What treatments are available for pulmonary hypertension?

    Treatment can help ease your pulmonary hypertension symptoms, improve your quality of life and slow disease progression. You may need medications, procedures or surgeries to treat PH directly or target its cause. The exact treatments you’ll receive vary by PH type.

    Talk with your provider to learn more about what you can expect and how to manage your condition.

  • What are the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension?

    Pulmonary hypertension symptoms include:

    • Blue or gray skin, that may be easier or harder to see depending on natural skin tone
    • Chest pressure or pain
    • Dizziness or fainting
    • Fast pulse or pounding heartbeat
    • Fatigue
    • Shortness of breath that may start during exercise and eventually happen at rest
    • Swelling in the ankles, legs and belly area.

  • How is a pulmonary embolism treated?

    Treatment of a pulmonary embolism focuses on keeping the blood clot from getting bigger and preventing new clots from forming. Treatment can include medicines, surgery and other procedures, plus ongoing care.

Breathe Better With Solid Support

A strong community encourages a strong heart. From connecting you with others through our cardiac support groups to helping you navigate our financial assistance tools, we’re here to give you the guidance you need to feel whole.

Find Your Local PH Support Group

Find Advanced Lung Health Care Near You

You’re ready to breathe easier again. Let our experienced teams within the AdventHealth Cardiovascular Institute network guide your path forward. We offer general lung health care and unmatched expertise for pulmonary hypertension, thoracic surgery, lung transplant and more — all coordinated through a trusted national network. Explore our locations or let our team guide you to the one that’s right for you.