ABSTRACT
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) clinical care requires an integrated approach between the patient, the pulmonary hypertension specialist, and multiple physicians involved in the clinical care team. Following diagnosis of PAH, clinical care recommendations encompass both supportive pharmacologic therapy and recommendations for general health maintenance. Supportive therapies include oxygen, diuretics, digoxin, anticoagulation, and perhaps heart failure medications (1). General health measures are activities of daily living and age-appropriate health care recommendations including physical activity and supervised rehabilitation, vaccinations, birth control, postmenopausal and male hormonal therapy, travel, altitude, psychosocial support, and elective surgery (1). Evidence is often based on expert opinion and is anecdotal, but there is support by clinical data. In this chapter, these important measures are discussed, and guidance for patient care is provided.
