Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a serious and rare disease that develops in the lungs when the blood vessels inside the organ become narrow and scarred. The treatment options may vary according to the causes and symptoms of PAH. However, there are some risk factors for PAH we should all look out for to prevent getting sick. Here are some of the major ones to be aware of.

Family History
This is one of the biggest risk factors when it comes to determining the chances of PAH. If more than two family members have had PAH or a relative is known to carry the PAH gene, you are more at risk of contracting the disease. It is best to discuss this with a doctor and get counseling on what can be done to either prevent the disease or to make a plan of action for the future.

Obesity with Sleep Apnea
Separately, obesity may not be considered a big risk for PAH. However, if a person suffers from obstructive sleep apnea, that is their oxygen levels go down while sleeping, they may be at risk of getting a mild case of PAH. However, it is always advised to maintain your weight as the extra weight does put pressure on your lungs.

Gender
There are two types of PAH- idiopathic PAH and familial PAH, that affects women more than men. Women are almost twice at risk than men. Moreover, expecting mothers are at a higher risk of getting the disease. So, they must be thenmost cautious.

Pregnancy 
As mentioned previosly, those planning have a child and are at risk for PAH must consult the doctor first. They may caution you against getting pregnant as it can be fatal to both mother and child. This is risky as it puts extra strain on the heart and lungs. Sudden changes in the blood volume of the mother during and after delivery can be dangerous as they can cause heart failure because the heart is already overworked due to PAH. 

Altitude
If you’ve lived at high altitudes all your life, it is a major risk factor of getting PAH as it puts more strain on your breathing. Therefore, straining your lungs can lead to scarring of the blood vessels. 

Other Diseases
There are so many other diseases that can lead to PAH. If someone suffers from congenital heart disease, liver disease, lung disease, or connective tissue diseases like lupus and scleroderma, they can develop the risk of contracting PAH as their heart and lungs are already weak due to their underlying condition. 

Certain Substances
The use of cocaine and diet pills has been linked to PAH. Approximately 20% of deaths that have happened due to illicit substances showed lung damage due to PAH. 

These risk factors for PAH should be kept in mind and people should make lifestyle changes to avoid putting themselves at risk for the disease.