pulmonary vascular resistance

Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is the measure of how much the blood vessels in the lungs oppose blood flow. It reflects the resistance the right side of the heart must overcome to pump blood through the lung’s small arteries and capillaries. Higher PVR means the vessels are narrower or more constricted, making the heart work harder to circulate blood. This can occur in conditions like pulmonary hypertension. PVR is an important indicator of lung vascular health and helps doctors assess how well the pulmonary circulation is functioning.