1. Understanding COPD Slideshow
2. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Quiz
3. Energy Foods for COPD Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Dr. Nabili received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. He then completed his graduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His graduate training included a specialized fellowship in public health where his research focused on environmental health and health-care delivery and management.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Traditionally, pulmonary hypertension is divided into two classes; 1) primary, and 2) secondary.

Primary pulmonary hypertension is not caused by any other underlying condition.

Secondary pulmonary hypertension is caused by other underlying conditions, such as:

• recurring blood clots in the lungs,
  
  
• left-sided congestive heart failure,
  
  
• long-standing (chronic) lung diseases,
  
  
• illicit drug use,
  
  
• certain medications,
  
  
• some rheumatologic conditions, or
  
  
• inflammation of the pulmonary blood vessels.

More specifically, pulmonary hypertension may be caused by:

• chronic (long-standing) lung disease, such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis (also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD), obstructive sleep apnea, cystic fibrosis, or other chronic lung diseases.
  
  
• congestive heart failure.
  
  
• recurrent blood clot formation in the pulmonary arteries or blood clots traveling from the legs to the pulmonary arteries may result in pulmonary hypertension (chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension).
  
  
• some rheumatologic conditions, such as scleroderma (systemic sclerosis), rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus.

Other less common causes of secondary hypertension include:

• illicit drugs (cocaine, speed, methamphetamine),
  
  
• some weight loss medications (Fen-Phen),
  
  
• HIV/AIDS,
  
  
• hyperthyroidism, and
  
  
• advanced liver disease.

Secondary pulmonary hypertension is much more common than primary pulmonary hypertension.

There is also a newer classification of this condition, which is more complex. In this system, pulmonary hypertension may be divided into five basic groups based on whether the underlying cause is:

1. lung disease,
   
   
2. heart disease,
   
   
3. vascular (blood vessel) disease,
   
   
4. blood clots, or
   
   
5. compression on the blood vessels from outside the vessel.