Yes, in many patients, PH can be due to a disease of the lungs. PH is usually seen when the lung disease is severe. In patients with lung disease, low oxygen levels in the blood usually cause PH.
However, in most patients with lung disease, PH is usually mild. Diseases of the lungs that can cause PH include:
- Emphysema of the lungs due to smoking
- Scarring (also known as fibrosis) of the lungs
- Recurrent or multiple blood clots in the lungs (also known as pulmonary emboli)
- Breathing problems at night that cause low oxygen levels in the blood, for example sleep apnea