Genetics of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)
Genetics of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)
What is Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)
PAH is a type of high blood pressure disease that affects the blood vessels in your lungs. The blood vessels become narrow or blocked and this makes it harder for blood to flow through them. This makes the heart work harder to pump blood through your lungs. The extra effort can eventually cause the heart muscle to become weak and fail. People who smoke or are overweight may be at a higher risk of developing PAH.
The symptoms of PAH can include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Feeling tired or dizzy
- Blue or gray skin color due to lack of oxygen
Medications can be provided to help manage PAH symptoms and slow down the progress of the disease. Exercise and eating a healthy diet is also used to help those with this condition.
How is the research done?
The research team wants to learn more about how this disease develops. They will use BioVU resources to find genes that can cause PAH. They will also look into medical history and symptoms of those with this condition. The team wants to find markers that specifically point to why the lungs and the heart react this way. The team will also study how those with PAH have been treated. They will look at genes to figure out how the body responds to common medication used to help PAH. They will also try to find genetic markers that can predict how a patient would respond to medications used for helping the lungs. The team hopes this information can help make better medicine for treating PAH.
What is the importance of the study?
PAH is not the most common disease. But it affects a lot of people and treatment for this condition could be improved. This research is important because it is trying to find the cause behind this condition. This can help make personalized treatment plans and help improve the lives of those with this condition.