Symptoms of PAH Include

What is Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension?

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is another name for high blood pressure in the lungs. It is not the same as high blood pressure in the body, which is checked by a blood pressure cuff on the arm.

In someone with PAH, the right side of the heart has to work harder to push blood through narrowed vessels in the lungs. Eventually, the extra stress causes the heart to enlarge and become less flexible. This decreases the heart’s ability to push blood out of the heart, through the lungs and to the rest of the body.

Symptoms of PAH include:

Fatigue

Exercise intolerance

Shortness of breath with activity

Dizziness

Nausea

Loss of appetite

Fluid retention (swelling of face, ankles, hands)

Quick Tips

Parents should always be notified of your concerns.

Some students cannot tolerate being outside when the weather is hot, humid or cold.Alternative indoor activities are sometimes required.

Students with PAH must remain well hydrated.Please allow the student to have water as needed.

Restroom privileges as needed are important as many receive diuretics (water pills) and/or may have diarrhea from the medications.

Attending school full time may be too tiring and stressful, so the student may benefit from an Individualized Education Plan. A student with PAH may alternate between having “good days” and “bad days.”For some PAH students, a simple cold may cause significant illness requiring close medical attention. They may also have many medical appointments and have to travel a long distance to see a specialist.

Some students have no activity restrictions while others are very limited in the activities they can perform. If student is self-limited with a physician’s letter, it is important to not restrict the student from participating in activities that his/her physician has approved; if the student then chooses to not participate, it should be left to the student to make the decision.Concerns about a student taking advantage of this policy should be discussed with a parent before requiring a student to participate.

Extra time and elevator passes may be required when transitioning between classrooms.

If the student does not feel well, they need to go to the nurse’s office to be evaluated. The student’s temperature should always be checked. The nurse should always contact the parents to discuss the situation and decide the course of action. If a parent cannot be located, the next designated person on the information sheet provided should be contacted.