Cardiovascular Medicine

Videos

Watch Mayo Clinic cardiologists and others discuss many conditions and treatments related to cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular surgery.

People with pulmonary hypertension receive coordinated, comprehensive care from a team of experts in the Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota.

Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and can result in reduced function of the right side of the heart. It can develop on its own, or it can stem from other diseases and conditions. There are many forms of pulmonary hypertension, so expert diagnosis is very important. It's a serious disease that can become worse over time if not properly treated. It can even lead to death. If you have pulmonary hypertension, seek experts that can properly diagnose your condition and provide care that may ease symptoms or prolong your life.

Your care team

Mayo Clinic's patient-centered, multidisciplinary approach to care means that the doctors and other health professionals on your team work together to evaluate your condition and develop a treatment plan. Often this can be done within a few days.

Our doctors diagnose and treat about 7,000 people with pulmonary hypertension each year. Mayo Clinic is one of a select few U.S. medical centers specially designated as an accredited Center of Comprehensive Care by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

Advanced diagnosis and treatment

You may need to undergo testing to assess your condition. These tests may include:

• Blood tests.
• Chest X-ray.
• Chest CT scan.
• Perfusion lung scan.
• Electrocardiogram.
• Echocardiogram.
• Genetic testing.
• Heart catheterization.
• Lung (pulmonary) function test.
• Heart MRI.
• Sleep study.
• Exercise testing.

After you're diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, doctors work with you and the coordinators in the Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic to develop a treatment plan based on the type of pulmonary hypertension, your needs and goals. It may involve complex medical therapies such as medicine given by mouth, inhaled medicine and medicine delivered through continuous infusion. The infusion might be delivered into a vein, which is called an intravenous infusion. Or it might be delivered under the skin, which is called a subcutaneous infusion.

In some cases, lung or heart-and-lung transplant may be needed. For people with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), Mayo Clinic has expertise in balloon pulmonary angioplasty and surgical thromboendarterectomy.

Throughout your care at Mayo Clinic, doctors will regularly assess your response to treatment and determine whether your treatment is effective or needs to be adjusted.

Education and support

A coordinator provided you with education about your medicine management and explained what to do if you experience complications. Nurses with expertise in helping patients manage their medicines work closely with our physician staff to coordinate your treatment plan, including regular communication between appointments by patient online portal or telephone. The Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic team worked together to manage or help prevent complications of your condition.

The staff in the Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic offers thorough follow-up care. Team members provide ongoing consultation on medicines, psychosocial issues, direction for treatment and research opportunities. The staff members also partner with your primary care provider for continuing care.

Innovative research

Mayo Clinic physician-scientists and researchers are committed to innovation in diagnostic and treatment options for pulmonary hypertension. They have been involved with clinical studies for pulmonary hypertension for many years. Ask your doctor whether you might enter a clinical study for pulmonary hypertension treatments.

Learn more about research in the Cardiovascular Research Center.

Appointments

You may be referred by your primary doctor or specialist. You also may make an appointment without a referral. Not all services may be available at all locations. Please confirm when you contact us for an appointment.

Nationally recognized expertise

Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other hospital and has been recognized as an Honor Roll member according to the U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 "Best Hospitals" rankings.

Mayo Clinic campuses are nationally recognized for expertise in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery:

• Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
• Mayo Clinic Children's in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2024–2025 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.