Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a type of high blood pressure specifically referring to the circuit that delivers blood to and from the lungs and heart. If the pressure rises high enough in these arteries due to blockages, the heart has to work harder to pump the blood to the lungs. This added effort by the heart can lead to heart failure when the heart becomes too weak to pump enough blood to the lungs.

In the 1990s and before, PH was considered a progressive and frequently fatal disease. This lies in its complexity in both diagnosis and management. It is not unusual for a proper diagnosis to be given at an advanced stage of the disease.

In this day and age, there are a plethora of resources to help our patients overcome the challenges of this condition. Our Pulmonary team is at the forefront of the disease state through active involvement in state-wide and national PH committees, and research. Our tools allow us to provide patients with individualized care and risk assessment, treatment alternatives, access to the latest therapies and clinical trials, and coordination with other specialists such as rheumatology, cardiology, or genetics. We have a robust respiratory lab, imaging, and cardiac lab to help serve you each step of the way.

We will work closely with your existing pulmonologist or cardiologist and primary care physician throughout the process of testing, including imaging and heart catheterization, as well as during the treatment phase. Our in-network advantage will allow your entire team to stay coordinated in your care.

New patient referrals and appointments can be made by calling the Pulmonary Clinic at SFCCMG at: 415-923-3421.

The Sutter Health PH care team:

Helena Wang, MD
Heba Ismail, MD