Pulmonary hypertension is a type of chronic lung disease. It occurs mainly due to the pulmonary arteries becoming narrow or getting blocked. This leads to increased blood pressure in the lungs, forcing the heart to work harder. To keep this problem at bay, special attention must be paid to its risk factors. If an individual falls into the following categories, then it’s advised they go to their doctor.

Here are some risk factors for pulmonary hypertension that one should keep in mind:

1. Age plays a major role

As per a research done by the American Thoracic Society, 36 years is the average age at which pulmonary hypertension is diagnosed. Even so, it may also develop between the ages of 20 to 60 years. While this is an average number charted out based on the patients diagnosed, this disease can occur at any age.

2. Higher weight increases your risk

Being overweight comes with a large number of health issues. An increase in the body weight increases the blood pressure in the lungs. Hence, it is important to stay fit because being obese is one of the leading risk factors for pulmonary hypertension.

3. A gamut of medical diseases puts you at a higher risk

Several other medical diseases can also be categorized as risk factors for pulmonary hypertension. These diseases include connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma, lupus, blood clotting diseases, HIV and liver diseases, amongst others. If a patient is diagnosed with any of these issues, then their chance of getting pulmonary hypertension increases manifold.

4. Gender may put you at a higher risk too
Several studies also reflect that females are at a higher risk of developing pulmonary hypertension as compared to males. However, there is no physiological reason proven behind this yet.

5. Family medical history

Like many disorders, one has a higher chance of developing pulmonary hypertension if there is a family history of it. The condition may, however, skip generations. For people who have family members with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension, an extra step of caution is advised.

6. Living in an area with a higher altitude

It is pretty common knowledge that as one keeps reaching higher altitudes, the ease of breathing decreases. This is due to a lesser amount of oxygen available at a higher elevation. Hence, it has been proven that people who live at a higher altitude are at a greater risk of developing pulmonary hypertension as compared to people residing at normal altitudes.

If one falls into any of these risk categories, then there is a high probability of them getting affected with this disease. It is essential to watch out for the aforementioned risk factors for pulmonary hypertension and consult one’s medical advisor for timely diagnosis.