Why is the fen-phen combination of drugs dangerous?
Two rare cardiopulmonary conditions have been linked to the use of fen-phen. Studies in the U.S. and abroad discovered heart valve damage in a relatively high percentage of long-term fen-phen users, compared to those who took the drugs only for very brief periods or not at all. Heart valve disease occurs when the valves become malformed, making them much less efficient in pumping blood. The other disorder is PPH, or primary pulmonary hypertension. This occurs when the blood vessels in the lungs become constricted, raising blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. Both of these conditions are difficult to treat and sometimes even difficult to diagnose. They can both lead to heart failure and even death. There is a great concern that once you have either condition that that condition gets progressively worse over time. So while you may show little or no symptoms now, either condition may be present and steadily getting worse.
