Many of us have heard of high blood pressure but a far less common type blood pressure affects only the arteries in the lungs, and when that's high, it's known as pulmonary hypertension.

Cardiologist Elizabeth Cintron explains that pulmonary hypertension is a simplified name for a complex health problem. "The way I describe it to my patients is high blood pressure within the lungs."

Physicians Assistant Sara Dube says that "Sometimes there is no cause, it's just primary pulmonary hypertension, which does not have a significant cause at that point."

Dr. Cintron says that others have another health issue that triggers this condition, it then becomes known as secondary pulmonary hypertension. "It could be underlying sleep apnea. It could be underlying heart dysfunction that causes a back up of pressure into the lungs. If it's due to heart function or valve dysfunction then we try to treat the underlying valve problem."

Medical doctor Stephen Zellner says that many people may have pulmonary hypertension without knowing it or are misdiagnosed with illnesses such as asthma or bronchitis, or conditions like asthma can even cause pulmonary hypertension. "The harder we work to breath the more difficult it is for your heart. So, people with asthma may develop pulmonary hypertension because of long standing inflammation and irritation of the lung."

It's important to get proper treatment for this condition because it can eventually lead to heart failure.

The symptoms associated with pulmonary hypertension are similar to many other conditions, so if you experience unusual fatigue, shortness of breath or chest pain you should see your doctor immediately.