Describe the cough symptom for someone with Pulmonary Hypertension.

In individuals with pulmonary hypertension, the cough symptom is typically non-productive. This type of cough is often associated with the disease's underlying pathophysiology, which involves increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries. As the heart works harder to pump blood through narrowed vessels, pulmonary congestion and increased lung pressure can lead to symptoms like dyspnea (shortness of breath) and, importantly, a dry cough rather than one that produces mucus.

The non-productive nature of the cough in pulmonary hypertension can be attributed to the lack of significant mucus production that would otherwise be associated with more common respiratory issues like infections or bronchitis. Instead, the cough is more of a reflex response due to irritation in the airways caused by other factors related to poor oxygenation and increased workload on the respiratory system.

While other types of coughs, such as productive with mucus or persistent with phlegm, may indicate other pulmonary or respiratory conditions, they are less characteristic of pulmonary hypertension. The distinction is crucial in identifying the disease's presence and understanding the underlying mechanisms at play.