By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez
As originally published First by Mega Doctor News newsprint Edition on July 2010
Learning that you have pulmonary hypertension can be overwhelming, but you’re not alone because tens of thousands of people are diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) every year. What is pulmonary hypertension? According to Dr. Adolfo Kaplan, a seasoned medical doctor specializing in Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, it consists of elevation of pressure in the arteries of the lungs that can lead to right heart failure and death.
Patients will experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness and fatigue, and the severity of symptoms usually correlates with the progression of the disease. Dr. Kaplan pointed out that PH affects people of all ages, races and ethnic backgrounds. “Although anyone can get PH, there are risk factors that make some people more susceptible,” he told Mega Metropolis Health & Fitness.
People, who have been diagnosed with or are being evaluated for pulmonary hypertension, have a lot they need to learn about this disease. Dr. Kaplan recommends for people to explore www.phassociation.org a website that is totally dedicated so people can learn about the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension, the different types of PH, the various diagnostic tests and treatment options, and much more.
While there’s currently no cure for PH, there are specific therapies available to manage symptoms and improve the quality of life of the patient. “With proper medical care a patient with PH is able to live many years,” he said. It is important to say that doctors who treat pulmonary hypertension are PH specialists, and they have undergone extensive study and special training to treat PH.
Pulmonary hypertension is an uncommon but serious disease, and most general medical doctors have little training or experience in PH treatment. Therefore, patients should concentrate on seeking a PH specialist. In this case, Dr. Kaplan has had extensive training and will provide the most proper care possible.
Dr. Kaplan also noted that there are different types of pulmonary hypertension diseases and that is why the treatment may vary depending on the type of PH. Dr. Kaplan told Mega Doctor News that now-a-days there are a number of ways to diagnose pulmonary hypertension and this varies according to the patient. PH can occur in families due to genetic disorders, in association with connective tissue disorders such as scleroderma, lupus and others, chronic liver disease, congenital heart diseases, HIV, medications, use of illicit drugs (amphetamines in particular), many lung diseases and more.
Dr. Kaplan explained, “Pulmonary hypertension is a life-changing illness, and although changes in lifestyle may be necessary, many patients can and do continue to lead full lives.”
Dr. Adolfo Kaplan is a Diplomate in Internal Medicine as well as in Pulmonary Disease; Critical Care Medicine; and Sleep Medicine. He also holds a certificate of merit or proficiency from the American Society of Echocardiography. Dr. Kaplan is also accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for Providing Diagnostic and Treatment Service for the Full Range of Sleep Disorders. Dr. Kaplan has been chosen as our Mega Doctor in this month of July for his unwavering commitment to his patients. You can contact Dr. Kaplan at the Pulmonary and Sleep Center of the Valley at 956-447-5557 or 956-630-1000. MDN
Written by Roberto Hugo Gonzalez the 2009 SBA Journalist of the Year Award Winner & The 2009 and 2012 Paul Harris Award recipient.
Dr. Adolfo E. Kaplan –
PROFILE
In 1993, Dr. Kaplan earned his medical degree graduating cum laude, from the National University of Tucuman, School of Medicine in Tucuman, Argentina. He did his residency in Internal Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York from 1995 to 1998; in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center in New York in 1998 to 2001; in Sleep Medicine at the New York University Sleep Disorders Center at Bellevue Medical Center in New York in 2000. From 2002 to 2005, Dr. Kaplan was Medical Director of the Respiratory Department and Intensive Care Unit at Espanola Hospital in Espanola, New Mexico; Medical Director of the Espanola Hospital Sleep Medicine Center; and Voluntary Assistant Professor at the University Of New Mexico School Of Medicine.
Since coming to the Valley in 2005, he is Associate Medical Director of the Pulmonary and Sleep Center of the Valley in Weslaco. From 2006 to 2010, Dr. Kaplan served as Medical Director of the Intensive Care Unit at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Mc Allen. Since 2007, he is the Medical Co-Director of the Intensive Care Unit at Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco; Volunteer Adjunct Faculty for the Polysomnography Program at the Sleep Technology Program of the University of Texas-Brownsville; and Voluntary Assistant Professor with the McAllen Family Medicine Residency Program of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Dr. Kaplan is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians; American Thoracic Society; Society of Critical Care Medicine; European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; American Society of Sleep Medicine; American Society of Echocardiography; and the Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Association.
Dr. Adolfo E. Kaplan –
PUBLICATIONS
• Abreu R, Doelken P, Kaplan A, Mayo P. Lower inflection point in ARDS: comparison of three methods of measurement. Abstract. American Thoracic Society 1999 Meeting.
• Doelken P, Abreu R, Kaplan A, Tanaka K, Mayo P. Effects of two tidal volumes on early end-expiratory lung volume change (ΔEELV) in ARDS after institution of PEEP. Abstract. American Thoracic Society 2000 Meeting.
• Kaplan AE, Ayappa I, Norman RG, Rapoport DM. Effect of position on apnea, hypopnea, RERA indices using the nasal cannula technique. Abstract. American Society of Sleep Medicine 2001 Meeting.
• Stanbrook M, Kaplan A, Juurlink D, Poole PJ. Systemic corticosteroids in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [Protocol] Cochrane Airways Group. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Issue 1, 2001.
• Kaplan AE, Stanbrook M, Travers A, Schiebel N, Rowe BH. Comparison of non-selective beta agonists vs. beta-2-agonists for the treatment of acute asthma in the emergency setting. [Protocol] Cochrane Airways Group. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Issue 1, 2001.
• Kaplan AE, Frankenthaller M, Mayo PH, Schneider RF. A Strategy to Avoid Respiratory Motion Artifact in Mechanically Ventilated Patients Undergoing Helical Chest CT Angiography. Critical Care Medicine 2001; 29:1292.
• Kaplan AE. Evaluation of left ventricular filling pressure by transthoracic doppler echocardiography in the intensive care unit. The Potential to Replace More Invasive Monitoring Techniques. Critical Care Medicine. 30(8):1933-1934, August 2002.
• Kaplan AE, Mayo PH. Echocardiography performed by the pulmonary/critical care medicine physician. Chest 2009;135:529-535.
• Mayo P, Beaulieu Y, Doelken P, Feller-Kopman D, Harrod C, Kaplan A, Oropello J, Vieillard-Baron A, Axler O, Lichtenstein D, Maury E, Slama M, Vignon P. American College of Chest Physicians/La Societe de Reanimantion de Lange Francaise Statement on Competence in Critical Care Ultrasonography. Chest; 2009; 135:1050-1060.
• Kaplan AE. Critical care echocardiography: diagnosis and monitoring of right ventricular function. Levitov A, Mayo PH, Slonim AD (eds). Critical Care Ultrasonography. McGraw Hill 2009.
• Kaplan AE, McLean A, Vieillard-Baron A. Echocardiographic evaluation and monitoring of right ventricular function and pulmonary artery pressures. Backer, D, Cholley B, Slama M, Vieillard-Baron, A, Vignon P (eds). Springer 2010 (In press).
• Kaplan AE, Kory P. Use of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of venous thromboembolic disease. Bolliger CT, Herth FJF, Mayo P, Miyazawa T, Beamis J (eds): Clinical chest ultrasound: from the ICU to the bronchoscopy suite. Progress in Respiratory Research. Basel, Karger, 2009. Volume 37, 1-13 (In press). MDN
