I'm sharing a few links with you that you might find useful. Basically, it comes down to the pulmonary wedge pressure (calculated during a right heart cath).

"Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined by a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) ≥25 mm Hg. 1 Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), group 1 in the Dana Point Classification, requires a pulmonary wedge pressure (PWP) ≤15 mm Hg. 2, 3 Group 2, pulmonary venous hypertension (PVH), is defined by a PWP >15 mm Hg in addition to an elevated mPAP, and results from elevation in postcapillary pressure attributable to left ventricular (LV) systolic or diastolic dysfunction or left heart valvular disease."

https://www.myphteam.com/resources/pulmonary-ve...

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CI...

https://pulmonaryhypertensionnews.com/pulmonary....

Good question. I actually have 3, b/c I spend a few mo yhs in Florida each winter. When I was diagnosed by the first, where I live in RI, he told me that your standard all-purpose pulmonologist is not fully trained in PH, since it is rare and there are so many standard respiratory disorders. He said I need someone who deals ONLY in PH. I was astonished not to find one near me in FL, where there are so many specialists. Lo and behold, a Boston specialist has an office also in East Providence, RI, only a half hour's drive away. I figure I need all the help I can get! I am struck by how many in our PH group say that their pulmonoligists seem to take a wait-and-see approach, or seem reluctant to prescribe meds. It seems to confirm that there's a lot still to learn about this disease, and that we all need to advocate for ourselves!!

@A myPHteam Member I so agree. There is so much to be learned about this disease. I'm fortunate. My pulmonologist is a PH specialist. My cardiologist readily admitted he is not qualified to manage PAH. I'm also baffled by the "wait and see" philosophy of some physicians. Within a week of diagnosis, I started my first PAH medication. My physician advised treating PAH as aggressively as possible as long as I could tolerate the medications.

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A myPHtea...

I see a cardiologist who specializes in PAH. I recommend finding one near you. My regular cardiologist recommended one. He is great. My pulmonologist didn't even diagnose me.