My doctor says I have borderline pulmonary hypertension. What can I do to avoid getting it? -

I ve been having chest heaviness and pains for several years now that have progressively gotten worse with each passing year. I never understood what it could be and all tests of my heart came back normal. Yet I have still had these strange and often painful feelings in my chest. Is it even possible to avoid getting this disease if I m already having the symptoms that I have?

Pulmonary hypertension is increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation. It has many secondary causes; when the cause is unknown it is called primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). In PPH, pulmonary vessels become constricted, hypertrophied, and fibrosed. Pulmonary hypertension leads to right ventricular overload and failure. Symptoms are fatigue, exertional dyspnea, and, occasionally, chest discomfort and syncope. Diagnosis is by measuring pulmonary artery pressure. Treatment is with vasodilators and, in selected advanced cases, lung transplantation. Prognosis is poor overall if a treatable secondary cause is not found. Self-care Although medical treatment can t cure pulmonary hypertension, it can lessen symptoms. You can also help improve the quality of your life by following these health measures: * Get plenty of rest. Getting ample rest can help combat the fatigue that may accompany pulmonary hypertension. * Follow a nutritious diet and maintain a healthy weight. Emphasize lean chicken, fish, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables. For the health of your heart, limit your intake of all types of fats to no more than 30 percent of your daily calories. Limit animal (saturated) and trans fats (hydrogenated oils) to 10 percent or less. * Don t smoke. If you smoke, the single most important thing you can do for your heart and lung health is to stop. If you can t stop smoking by yourself, ask your doctor to prescribe a treatment plan to help you quit. Researchers don t yet know whether secondhand smoke — also known as passive or environmental smoke — plays a role in pulmonary hypertension. It is known, however, that exposure to environmental smoke can lead to a number of other health problems, including lung cancer and heart attack. * Stay as active as possible. Even the mildest forms of activity may be too exhausting for some people with pulmonary hypertension. For others, moderate exercise such as walking may be of great benefit, and using oxygen during exercise may be especially helpful. Your doctor can help you plan an appropriate exercise program. * Avoid becoming pregnant or using birth control pills. If you re a woman of childbearing age, avoid becoming pregnant. Pregnancy can be life-threatening for both you and your baby. Also avoid using birth control pills, which can increase your risk of blood clots. Talk to your doctor about alternative forms of birth control. * Avoid traveling to or living at high altitudes. High altitudes can aggravate the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension. If you live at a high altitude, your doctor may advise you to move to a lower elevation. * Find ways to reduce stress. These can range from yoga, meditation and biofeedback to warm baths, music or a good book. Try to allow at least 30 minutes a day for an activity you find relaxing. Many people with pulmonary hypertension find that simply reducing stress can greatly improve the quality of their lives. Please see the web pages for more details on Pulmonary hypertension.

For hypertension these exercises will help you get back to normal.Start the exercises and build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and continue later.Continue the exercise once a day after you are completely cured. Anulom Vilom – Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril. This is one cycle of anulom vilom. Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day(maximum 60 minutes in one day). You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed. Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day.(Max 60 min/day) Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.

Eat less animal fat.

salt is bad for the heart. too much salt can swell up your body. I would try to avoid lots of salt in your diet and see if that helps a bit