A press release was issued by the Dean of TU Faculty of Medicine regarding the Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic within the hospital and the importance of early diagnosis of the disease. TU Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. made the statement. Dr. Sedat Üstündağ and Assoc. Prof. of the Department of Cardiology. Dr. Çağlar Kaya attended. Providing information about pulmonary hypertension, Assoc. Dr. Kaya said that the disease is caused by high pressure in the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. Kaya said, "The heart and the lungs are two important organs of the circulatory system that work in harmony with each other. This high pressure in the vein leading to the lungs is an important health problem that negatively affects life and even causes sudden death. This disease has many subtypes and is associated with approximately 35-40 different conditions and diseases. These diseases can cause what we call pulmonary hypertension. This disease is accompanied by complaints such as fatigue, shortness of breath, fainting, and chest pain that cannot be explained by other diseases, especially in the later stages." "The most important thing is the early recognition and diagnosis of this disease," he said.
'A VERY RARE DISEASE'
Stating that the disease is rare, Assoc. Dr. Kaya said, "Thousands of patients around the world, and in Türkiye, we can say that it is a very rare disease, which can be said to be approximately 5 per million. It has many subgroups, but what we want to draw attention to today is actually to raise awareness about the subgroup we call pulmonary arterial hypertension. These patients are examined and examined by many physicians, but of course they can be treated only when it can be attributed to certain causes. However, in cases where it cannot be explained, we need to think about this disease. First of all, we need to think about this disease. "We try to differentiate the diseases by evaluating them together with many examinations such as heart ultrasound, which we call echocardiography, heart rhythm evaluation, which we call electrocardiography, lung tomography, such as computed tomography, and cardiac MRI," he said.
'WE DO INTERVENTIONAL AND NON-INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURES'
Assoc. Dr. Underlining that there are some disease groups that can be associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension, Kaya said, "Especially people who have previously been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in the family, those who have what we call congenital heart disease, and those who have diseases such as cyclorederma accompanied by rheumatic diseases, which we call connective tissue disease, need to be screened for this disease. As the Department of Cardiology at Trakya University, we hold a pulmonary hypertension outpatient clinic in our cardiology outpatient clinic one day a week. Here, we examine our patients in detail, evaluate, "We perform all necessary invasive and non-invasive procedures. This polyclinic serves patients by appointment from morning to evening on Tuesdays. At the same time, some of the congenital heart diseases cannot be treated, but the ones that are treatable, especially ASD, which is a hole in the heart, can be treated in this polyclinic and in our hospital. Therefore, some of these congenital heart diseases that cause the development of pulmonary hypertension can also be treated in our clinic."
'THE SHORTNESS OF BREATH IS NOT SEEN IN EVERYONE WHO HAS FALLS'
Stating that not every person who has shortness of breath, palpitations, or gets tired easily is diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, Kaya said, "It is important to emphasize this. There is no such thing as pulmonary arterial hypertension or pulmonary hypertension in every person who has shortness of breath, has palpitations, and gets tired easily. It is necessary to emphasize this. First of all, many diseases should be evaluated, as a result of the assessment of the person's own metabolism, that is, the working order of his own body, shortness of breath that cannot be attributed to some diseases, that is, shortness of breath that cannot be attributed to any disease, especially asthma, COPD." Apart from known causes such as heart failure, heart valve diseases, kidney failure, liver failure, we need to consider this disease especially when it causes shortness of breath. And at the same time, not every high lung pressure or high pulmonary pressure means pulmonary arterial hypertension. As a result of a detailed evaluation of all diseases that cause high pulmonary pressure, we are actually trying to reach this rare disease, which we have reduced to a small group. The most important thing here is to evaluate the patients about the diagnosis of this disease before it is too late and to raise awareness for society and physicians. "It is necessary," he said.
'THE LONGER THE PROCESS PROLONGS, THE POSSIBILITY OF TREATMENT LOSTS'
TU Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Sedat Üstündağ also drew attention to the negative situations that may arise in late diagnosis of the disease and said, "The longer the process of the disease, the longer the process of diagnosis, the possibility of full treatment is eliminated. However, at the very beginning, when the disease is at the level of shortness of breath, feeling of congestion, weakness and fatigue, this disease can be diagnosed and if it is treated correctly, people will find healing. Their life comfort will increase. The polyclinic established within the cardiology department of our teacher also helps in the early diagnosis and treatment of this disease, in a short time. "And its treatment will definitely make great contributions to both Edirne and the Thrace region. Perhaps, in 10 years, we will not encounter so many pulmonary hypertension complications," he said.
