Hi Everyone.....I have yet another question [I'm sorry!] I had an ultrasound done on my heart today, and was just wondering what information doctors gain from this re Pulmonary Hypertension? Also had lung function test where the girl told me that "the exchange of gases" [I presume between my heart and lungs?] was "mild to moderate". Two years ago after heart ultrasound they said "Mild to moderate Pulmonary Hypertension". Does this mean the same thing? The girl at the lung function test also said my airways were obstructed, but this was common in asthma sufferers, particularly as I hadn't taken my morning inhaler [I also have asthma]. I know I need to wait to see my dr on Friday, but does anyone know what any of this means? Thank you all so much, and I;m so sorry to bother you all again.
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puddy68
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I think the exchange of gases is between oxygen going into your blood stream from your lungs and carbon dioxide coming out. I learnt that on Health Unlocked. Hope I've got it right.xxx
Yes, spot on! Gas exchange takes place via the alveoli (air sacs at end of the airways) and alvioli walls break down over time so the gas exchange is less efficient.
Yes, it helps to understand a little about the anatomy and how things work. 🥰
Even then the terminology can be confusing. Pulmonary usual means relating the lungs, but hypertension is about the blood pressure in an artery - so about high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery which goes between the heart and the lungs. One of the questions to ask when you see the doctor is how does it effect your health, and how is managed / treated. Some doctors will draw a diagram to help explain it. Doing an ultrasound of the heart will help them to see what is causing it.
Hopefully the doctor will be able to explain and you will feel better knowing what is happening. I think uncertainty is always hard and we go into overdrive imagining the worse. The phrase 'Mild to moderate' sounds reassuring.
Thanks for this description of the pulmonary artery.
I have a heart arrythmia which causes problems for me. I often feel short of breath and wonder is this from my heart or my lung condition and I have no answers. You have shown me the link, although it doesn't answer the question.
I have wondered if the cardiologist and respiratory consultant are joined up and working as a team, or if they only treat each area independently. Do they take the other area into account at all.
It's something I must ask at my next appointments but they're still a couple of months away.
I should learn more about our anatomy, but it's where to start.
Heart arrythmias are when the heart beats irregularly.
It isn't easy to unpick what is causing shortness of breath as it can come from a problem with the heart or the lungs or both. Hospital consultants should work together, but it depends on your local hospital as to how well it happens. A GP can be useful as they work across all disciplines. (I speak as an ex nurse, but long retired!)
I find BBC bite size quite helpful when looking at a topic I know nothing about. They do have one covering GSCE anatomy - bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z...
I used to listen and feel a bit lost with all the terminology, and at the end they'd ask if I had any questions and I couldn't think of any, then later I wondered what they had meant and sometimes I'd worry about it.
Now I try to ask what they mean as they are talking, so I don't miss anything out.
They're always happy to explain and I understand what's going on.
And if I think of anything later I ring my GP surgery and ask the receptionist if someone can give me an explanation. I might have to wait for a call back but there's never a problem so you could always try that.
But I'm still not great at asking why I should have a particular test, what they might be looking for. What information do they gain?
It's only two more days to Friday but if you're feeling stressed about it I would think of calling the surgery and telling them it's worrying you. You should get a call from a GP who will explain the findings.
Thank you so much, Ilovedogs. I saw my GP yesterday, and I think I asked him the same questions at least 3 times! I just wanted o make sure that everything sunk in!
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