PPH Attorney

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension – Heart Valve Damage

When people take fen-phen, a common result is weight loss. Another common result is Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH). In addition to PPH, taking diet drugs such as fen-phen can result in damage to the mitral and aortic valves in the heart.

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension is a lung disorder in which blood pressure in the pulmonary artery (the artery that takes blood from the heart to the lungs in order to make it oxygen-rich) is abnormally high. Blood pressure increases due to a constriction of the pulmonary artery. In the United States there are roughly 500 to 1,000 new cases of PPH per year with many victims being women between the ages of 20 and 40. The relatively low occurrence of PPH makes it hard to study. The symptoms include tiredness, difficulty breathing, dizziness, fainting, swelling in the ankles or legs, bluish discoloration in the lips and skin, and chest pain.

In Mitral Valve Regurgitation, the valve does not close completely which allows blood to flow back into the upper left chamber of the heart. Aortic Valve Regurgitation results in blood flowing backwards and makes the aorta pump more blood and work harder. Either one of these problems can be detected with an electrocardiogram (EKG). If it is determined that you have either one of these side effects, Valve Replacement Surgery can be deemed necessary.

The PPH lawyer at Williams and Kherkher in Houston can help you with all of your fen-phen and Primary Pulmonary Hypertension needs. They are experienced lawyers that are here to help you in your time need.