The goals of treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are to relieve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.

What treatment options are available?

Oral therapy—medications that are taken by mouth
Inhaled therapy—medications that are inhaled
Continuous intravenous (into a vein) or subcutaneous (under the skin) infusion—medications that are delivered continuously to your bloodstream through a vein or a needle placed under the skin
Combination therapy—2 or more medications that work together
Surgery—including lung or heart-lung transplantation; considered for the most severe cases of PAH, in which medication is not successful

What other medications might my treatment include?

Anticoagulants ("blood thinners") to prevent blood clots
Diuretics ("water pills") to reduce swelling
Supplemental oxygen to make sure your body has enough oxygen
Calcium channel blockers for the small percentage of people with a positive response to "vasodilator challenge" testing during right heart catheterization

Talk to your doctor to learn about the treatment options that are best for you.