Pulmonary hypertension program in Greeley earns regional clinical accreditation - Greeley Tribune

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association recently designated Banner Health’s Cardiovascular Institute of North Colorado a Regional Clinical Program for its pulmonary hypertension program.

Located at 1800 15th St., #340A in Greeley, the Cardiovascular Institute’s program is the only one in the state with the Regional Clinical Program designation. The next closest regional clinical program is located in Dallas, Texas, with a total of six in the U.S. The Pulmonary Hypertension Association launched the Pulmonary Hypertension Care Centers accreditation program in 2014 to help patients with the life-threatening lung disease get care from expert clinicians.

Also known as high blood pressure of the lungs, pulmonary hypertension affects people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. The disease can result from the arteries in the lungs becoming damaged, narrowed or stiffened, which forces the right side of the heart to pump with additional force and leads to right heart failure and death.

Common conditions that can put people at risk for pulmonary hypertension include heart disease, connective tissue disorders, pulmonary emboli. Symptoms are non-specific and include shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain. Patients can go years believing they have other less life-threatening illnesses, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

For a full list of accredited Pulmonary Hypertension Care Centers, go to bit.ly/PHACareCenters.

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