Effects & Symptoms of PH-ILD
WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE YOUR BODY WHEN YOU HAVE PH-ILD
Both ILD and PH affect the lungs, but PH also weakens the heart.
The impact of ILD + PH in your body
ILD causes lung tissue to become stiff, making it harder to breathe and get oxygen into the blood.
+
PH causes the blood vessels in the lungs to become narrow, making it harder for blood to flow and causing pressure to increase.
=
The heart has to work harder to push blood through the lungs, which weakens or damages the heart.
PH can affect your ability to do the things you want to do, like being active and spending time with loved ones.
That’s why it’s so important to identify PH early and get ahead of it.
Knowing more may help you do more for your health.
The overlapping symptoms with ILD can make PH hard to detect
Some of the symptoms of PH that overlap with ILD include:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Reduced ability to be active
Symptoms to point out to your doctor:
- Symptoms that seem worse than they were before, such as you can’t walk as far as you used to without resting
- If supplemental oxygen is needed for the first time or if more is needed than previously used
It’s important to ask your doctor about checking for PH at each appointment—especially if you’ve noticed your symptoms getting worse.
Take steps to catch PH early
Ask your doctor to check for signs of PH in the tests you’re already doing.
Your existing ILD tests can help flag signs of early-stage PH, but your doctor needs to look at them with PH in mind.
Be vigilant and work with your doctor to watch for PH.
Your test results may contain signs of PH, but they could be easily missed unless your doctor checks specifically for those signs. That’s why it’s crucial that you ask to be checked for PH.
Raise the questions. Sign up to receive communications to prepare you for conversations with your doctor.
Learn how your doctor can check for PH-ILD.
ILD=interstitial lung disease; PH=pulmonary hypertension.
