Throughout November, PHA will educate people about risk factors and symptoms of PH through its award-winning interactive, online PH Awareness Month calendar.
WASHINGTON (PRWEB)
October 11, 2022
Each November, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) launches a national campaign to raise awareness about pulmonary hypertension (PH). This progressive rare disease is defined by high blood pressure in the lungs and can cause right-heart failure and even death.
This year’s theme is “PHacing the Future Day by Day.” Throughout November, PHA will educate people about risk factors and symptoms of PH through its award-winning interactive, online PH Awareness Month calendar. The calendar reveals a new fact or tool daily, along with downloadable resources to raise PH awareness. This year’s theme compliments the theme of PHA’s biennial conference held in June, “PHacing the Future Together.”
PH is a contributing factor to more than 18,000 adult deaths each year in the United States. It can occur among those with left-heart disease; associated conditions such as sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or scleroderma; or from congenital heart disease. It affects people of any age, sex, race, social or ethnic background.
The disease is significantly underdiagnosed and misunderstood, even among health care providers. Symptoms, including shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain, aren’t specific to PH and can lead to dangerous delays in diagnosis. While PH is incurable, early diagnosis and proper treatment can extend and improve quality of life.
“PHA and the entire pulmonary hypertension community have made great strides over the years in creating awareness of this disease,” said PHA Board of Trustees Chair Tony Lahnston. “We continue that trajectory and face a bright future with improved support, diagnosis and treatment of PH through education, expanded resources and dedicated research. PHA staff and leadership remain committed to PHA’s mission to extend and improve the lives of those affected by PH.”
PHA’s outreach during November includes social media, advocacy and educational components. PHA offers a PH Awareness Month digital toolkit that includes social media profile and cover photos, social media graphics, an email signature and sample social media posts to raise awareness throughout November.
This year’s events include the PHA Live webinar “Focus on PH Research” on Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. EST. Anna Hemnes, M.D., Evan Brittain, M.D., M.Sc., of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and expert panelists will inform the PH community about the latest advances in PH research and data presented at the PHA 2022 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions in Atlanta.
PHA will celebrate PHA’s Day of Action on Nov. 17. This year, PH community members are encouraged to sign the American Lung Association’s oxygen reform petition. The petition asks Congress to change their policies to ensure anyone who needs supplemental oxygen has appropriate access. PH patients, caregivers and loved ones can find additional ways to take action, such as sharing their oxygen access experiences, by visiting PHA’s Advocacy Action Center.
As part of PH Awareness Month, PHA will mark Nov. 9 as CTEPH Awareness Day. Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare form of PH caused by blood clots in the lungs that harden over time and impede blood flow. Up to 5% of people who develop pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs) may develop CTEPH. Unlike some forms of PH, CTEPH has treatment options that include a potentially curative surgery.
PHA will also celebrate Giving Tuesday on Nov. 29 as part of its PH Awareness Month activities.
More information about PH, the campaign, and how to raise awareness can be found at PHAssociation.org/awarenessmonth.
About the Pulmonary Hypertension Association
Headquartered in Washington D.C., the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) is the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit patient association dedicated to the pulmonary hypertension (PH) community. Pulmonary hypertension is a rare, chronic and life-threatening disease of the lungs for which no cure currently exists. PHA’s mission is to extend and improve the lives of those affected by PH. To achieve this mission, PHA engages people with PH and their families, caregivers, health care providers, and researchers worldwide who work together to advocate for the PH community, provide support to patients, caregivers and families, offer up-to-date education and information on PH, improve quality patient care, and fund and promote research. For more information, visit PHAssociation.org and connect with PHA on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
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