Treatment As the disease is divided into various groups , the treatment depends on the underlying causes .
At present , Dr Teoh said there are treatment options only for patients living with Group 1 and 4 pulmonary hypertension . However , he said the options come with a hefty price tag . According to him , the treatment options are very limited in Malaysia but the doctors commonly use oral medications .
“ The first line medication we use is phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors , includessildenafil and tadalafil – which has shown effectiveness to reduce and maintain the lung pressure .
This medication costs about RM3,500 per month for optimum dose .
“ But if the patient is still not feeling the effectiveness of the drug , then we prescribe second line medication , endothelin receptor antagonist which costs about RM10,000 a month and the patient must take it for life ,” he added .
Dr Teoh also noted that patients living with severe pulmonary hypertension may opt for lung transplantation , but admitted that the chances of finding one is low due to lack of donors in the country .
There are currently no treatment options available to permanently cure the disease .
Without treatments , patients living with the disease can only survive about 2.8 years .
But with the right medical care , the patients can live up to 10 years .
However , lifestyle modification , appropriate exercise and compliance to medication can make patient feel better , said Dr Teoh
Lifestyle Changes Dr Teoh warned that the disease can be very depressing for the patient and requires many lifestyle changes .
Women with pulmonary hypertension are generally advised against pregnancy , and if they do become pregnant , they ’ ll need careful monitoring by a multidisciplinary team .
“ This is because the mortality rate of the mother is 30 to 56 per cent during the pregnancy period ,” he said .
Air travel for patients with the disease often comes with risks and they must always consult their doctors to ensure they are fit before taking a flight .
“ When flying at high altitude , the oxygen concentration will be lower and may cause shortness of breath to the patient ,” said Dr Teoh .
The patients are also advised to reduce water and salt intake to prevent water retention in their body .
About Institut Jantung Negara Institut Jantung Negara ( IJN ) was set up in 1992 to delivers advanced treatment of heart disease by providing cardiology , paediatric cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery services for adults and children .
Since its establishment , IJN has treated over a million patients and is recognised as one of the leading cardiovascular and thoracic health centres in the region .
Today , IJN boasts a strong team of specialist cardiologists , surgeons , anaesthesiologists , paramedics and clinical support staff to provide a range of cardiac services .
Equipped with the latest and most advanced facilities , IJN is reckoned to be among the best medical centres for cardiovascular and thoracic care in Malaysia and the region .
The diagnosis can be done through various health screenings , including X-ray , electrocardiogram and echocardiogram .
GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com APRIL 2021
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