As we enter February, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) joins the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to mark American Heart Month, which promotes heart health and encourages people to reduce their risk of heart disease.
This is a great opportunity for our members, friends and allies to raise awareness of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and educate the public in general and policymakers, and health care providers in particular about the link between PH and heart failure.
Throughout February, PHA will use social media to spread the word about the link between PH and heart failure. Share your tips to improve heart health on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linked in with #OurHearts and #PHAssociation. We also encourage you to share your experiences on PHA’s Right Heart Blog.
In addition, on Feb. 28, PHA will mark Rare Disease Day together with more than 800 organizations from 70 countries in a global campaign to draw attention to those with rare diseases. Many people with PH also have scleroderma, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, sickle cell disease or other rare diseases.
Because of the difficulty in diagnosing PH, and the often delayed diagnoses, raising awareness by participating in Rare Disease Day is another way to educate others about PH and PHA’s work to extend and improve the lives of people affected by PH.
We invite you to join us by sharing your stories online and at public events (when it’s safe to do so again) and by participating in PHA’s advocacy network to encourage policy makers to address the needs of those living with PH and other rare diseases.
Your stories of personal triumphs, heartbreaks, successes, scientific breakthroughs and setbacks are the most powerful tools we have to educate others about the meaning of living with PH.
To learn more about PH and heart issues, download a free brochure about PH and congenital heart disease, or watch a recent PHA Classroom video on Group 2 Pulmonary Hypertension linked to left heart disease.
To learn more about what you can do at home to improve heart health, view these videos on tips to reduce sodium and fluid intake and cardio rehabilitation.
Learn more about rare diseases associated with PH here.
To join PHA’s advocacy network and learn about ways to educate your legislators and set up virtual visits, go to PHAssociation.org/advocate.
As we continue to stay safely at home throughout this year’s American Heart Month, we can still advocate, share and raise awareness through social media, virtual meetings, phone calls and email.
However you spread awareness about the link between PH and heart failure, I look forward to hearing from you. Together, our voices will make a difference as we work toward early diagnosis and healthier hearts.
With gratitude and respect,
