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Health condition

Pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is high pressure in the arteries of the lungs, straining the right side of the heart. Early diagnosis matters, because modern targeted treatment has transformed some forms.

Why trust this guide

  • 01

    Editorial team

    Written by our editorial team from the UK sources listed on each page.

  • 02

    Sourced from guidance

    Checked against current NHS and UK specialist society guidance at the time of review.

  • 03

    Current for 2026

    Reviewed on 2026-09-27 with the next review scheduled for 2027-09-27.

Key facts

The essentials at a glance.

The symptoms to recognise, when to seek help, which specialist to see, and what treatment usually involves.

  • Typical symptoms: progressive breathlessness on exertion, fatigue, chest tightness, light-headedness or fainting on effort, and ankle swelling

  • Seek urgent help for fainting during exertion or rapidly worsening breathlessness

  • Specialist: a consultant cardiologist usually leads assessment and treatment

  • Treatment depends on the type: targeted drug therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension in specialist centres, anticoagulation or surgery for clot-related disease, and treating the underlying heart or lung disease in the commonest forms

Understanding the condition

What it is and what happens next.

What causes it, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment routes available in the UK.

What it is and how it feels

The condition has five groups with very different treatment: pulmonary arterial hypertension (rare, including forms linked to connective tissue disease), disease secondary to left heart failure (the commonest), lung-disease-related, chronic clot-related (CTEPH - potentially curable with surgery), and miscellaneous causes. Breathlessness out of proportion to visible disease is the classic clue, and diagnosis averages a two-year delay.

Diagnosis and treatment routes

An echocardiogram is the key screening test, with right heart catheterisation in a specialist centre confirming the diagnosis and type. The UK’s designated pulmonary hypertension centres offer targeted therapies that improve symptoms and survival in PAH, and assessment for the curative operation in CTEPH - which is why the right referral matters more than in almost any other cardiac condition. In many parts of the UK, routine NHS referrals for this kind of problem currently take 20-45+ weeks, whereas an initial appointment with a private consultant is typically available within around two weeks.

Seeing a specialist

Who to see, and how quickly you can be seen.

The specialist for this condition is usually a consultant cardiologist. Your GP can refer you on the NHS, or you can arrange a private consultation directly.

A quiet reminder

This guide is for information, not medical advice.

Your GP knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, see them - and seek urgent care for any of the emergency symptoms described above.

Frequently asked

Common questions about Pulmonary hypertension.

Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.

  • What is pulmonary hypertension?

    Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure specifically within the arteries supplying the lungs, which forces the right side of the heart to work harder and can, over time, lead to heart strain and breathlessness.

  • What causes pulmonary hypertension?

    Causes range from disease directly affecting the small pulmonary arteries, to conditions such as heart failure, chronic lung disease, blood clots, or connective tissue disease that raise pulmonary pressure as a complication.

  • What are the symptoms?

    Breathlessness, particularly with exertion, fatigue, chest discomfort, and, in more advanced disease, leg swelling and fainting are typical, often developing gradually over months.

  • Is pulmonary hypertension dangerous?

    Yes, it's a serious condition that places significant strain on the heart over time, though the specific outlook and treatment approach depend heavily on the underlying cause identified.

  • Can pulmonary hypertension be treated?

    Yes, treatment depends on the type and cause, ranging from specific pulmonary hypertension medications, to treating an underlying condition, to surgery for certain causes such as chronic blood clots.

  • How is pulmonary hypertension diagnosed?

    An echocardiogram often raises initial suspicion, with right heart catheterisation needed to confirm the diagnosis and measure pressures directly, alongside further tests to identify the underlying cause.

  • How long does treatment take to work?

    This varies considerably by cause and treatment type, from weeks to months for medication-based treatments to show benefit, to more immediate improvement for some surgically treatable causes.

  • Pulmonary hypertension vs high blood pressure (hypertension) generally — what's the difference?

    Standard high blood pressure affects the whole circulatory system and is measured with an arm cuff, while pulmonary hypertension specifically affects the pulmonary arteries and requires specialised testing, including right heart catheterisation, to diagnose.

  • What are the different types of pulmonary hypertension?

    Pulmonary hypertension is classified into groups based on cause, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (direct disease of the small arteries), and forms secondary to heart disease, lung disease, blood clots, or other conditions, each with a somewhat different treatment approach.

  • When should I see a specialist, and how quickly can I be seen privately?

    See a cardiologist or respiratory specialist for unexplained progressive breathlessness. Private specialist assessment is typically available within about two weeks, considerably faster than standard NHS referral pathways for this condition.