Pulmonary Hypertension can occur at any age, but it typically affects people between 20 and 60 years of age. Pulmonary Hypertension can occur for no known reason (Idiopathic), but there are also some factors that increase the risk of Pulmonary Hypertension:
- history of a close relative having PH (inherited)
- use of appetite-suppressant medications for weight loss
- history of pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs)
- other medical conditions including lung disease (such as COPD and sleep apnea), heart disease (such as heart failure), as well as connective tissue diseases (such as scleroderma), and severe liver disease
- Infection with HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis B or C
