Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Early Recognition and Treatment Can Make a Lifetime Difference for Your Patient

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, life-threatening, progressive disease that is characterized by sustained elevations of pulmonary artery pressure with no apparent cause. Because it is often difficult to diagnose, the true incidence of PAH is unknown. The true number of cases has eluded researchers because accurate diagnosing of PAH is complex. The prevalence of PAH is estimated at 1 to 2 million people worldwide, with 500 to 1000 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year. It is important for nurse practitioners who work in both primary and acute care to be familiar with this devastating disease and to consider this condition as a differential diagnosis when caring for patients with dyspnea.