News
Fresno Pulmonary Hypertension Program
November 12, 2021
Pulmonary hypertension happens when the pressure in the blood vessels leading from the heart to the lungs is too high. It can occur due to the narrowing of the small blood vessels in the lungs. As a result, the right side of the heart that normally pumps the blood into the lungs has to squeeze harder against these narrow blood vessels. Over time, this can result in heart failure and death. It is a serious and complex condition and can affect people of all ages. Young women can be commonly affected.
The Fresno Pulmonary Hypertension Program was launched in 2008 and is the first and the only Pulmonary Hypertension Center in the Central Valley. The National Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) recognized our success, and we were accredited as a “PHCCC – Center of Comprehensive Clinical Care” – i.e., “Center of Excellence” in 2017. Before the launch of this program, patients from the Central valley needed to travel many miles to places such as San Francisco or Los Angeles to seek specialty care for this condition.
Sadly, it remains a hidden disease and can be challenging to diagnose. It can take up to two years or more to make a diagnosis. Improved awareness and prompt referral to an expert center may help expedite the diagnosis. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in improving outcomes. Most common symptoms include exercise-induced fatigue, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, ankle swelling.
The Fresno PH Program is fully comprehensive and consists of outpatient specialty care clinics, inpatient specialty care, clinical research, and support groups. As a recognized expert center, patients may also have the opportunity to participate in multi-center drug trials that may allow them to receive cutting-edge therapies.
Many Valley families have benefitted from this program over the years.
To learn more about the University Pulmonary Associates, click here.