PAH, i.e., pulmonary arterial hypertension, affects the right side of the heart and the arteries in the lungs. It can worsen with the passage of time. Treatment helps in controlling the symptoms of the disease. In this disease, the arteries in the lungs get either blocked or narrowed down, resulting in difficulty in blood flow. This consequently raises the blood pressure in the lungs.

As a result of this, the heart needs to put in more work to be able to pump blood through those narrowed or blocked arteries. Over time, the heart muscle weakens, and it can lead up to heart failure.

1. Chest pain and erratic heart rate
Chest pain is one of the symptoms of PAH as the heart muscles work harder in a person suffering from PAH than in normal healthy people. These muscles grow weak and cause irregular and erratic heartbeats and heart rates. Also, there might be chest pain.

2. Swelling of limbs
Swelling in the limbs is a symptom of PAH. Edema can occur too in the feet. This happens as the kidneys can’t function properly.

3. Dizziness and tiredness
When less blood reaches the lung, it cannot function properly, resulting in reduced oxygen to the brain. This leads to dizziness. Also, the body gets tired soon.

4. Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath is among the first systems of this medical condition. Routine activities like walking or climbing stairs will give you shortness of breath.

5. Cough
Cough is also a symptom of PAH, but it can be various other reasons too. The cough may be accompanied by blood at times.

6. Swelling in the face
Swelling in the face can be one of the symptoms of PAH, along with swelling in the legs, ankles, feet.

7. Low blood pressure
Low blood pressure, though possible for a variety of medical conditions, is a lesser-known symptom of the medical condition PAH.

8. Blue skin
There can be a symptom of bluish discoloration of the skin in the advanced stages of this disease.

9. Enlargement of the right side of the heart
Hypertrophy, i.e., enlargement of the right chamber of the heart, is a symptom of this condition—the reason for this is low amounts of oxygen in the blood.

10. Pregnancy complications
It is advisable not to get pregnant if you have this medical condition as it can be life-threatening.

11. Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia, i.e., irregular heartbeats, can be one complication of the disease.

12. Heart failure
The heart has to pump harder than before, and it strains the heart leading to heart failure in some patients.