Last week the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) launched its annual awareness campaign, Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month, to increase knowledge of pulmonary hypertension (PH) among the general public, people at risk for PH and those who unknowingly live with it, health care providers, the media and elected officials. PHA and its members and followers are making an impact across the U.S. in raising awareness.

Thekla McGinley, PHA Central Arkansas support group leader, is doing her part to spread awareness this month. Thekla reached out to her local media, which resulted in an appearance Monday on a local television broadcast to discuss PH and share her story. A customizable press release is on the Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month webpage under the Toolkit for members of the PH community to adapt with their story and distribute to local news outlets, including newspapers, television and radio.

PHA members are using Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month to educate Congress about life with PH and the challenges it presents, as well as how lawmakers can help. Since Nov. 1, more than 100 letters have been sent to U.S. senators and representatives. PHA has created tools to assist in communicating with lawmakers; they also are available through the Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month website.

PHA and followers successfully used social media to impact awareness. Nov. 2-8, PHA gained 113 new followers on Facebook and engagement (e.g., likes, comments and shares) increased 17 percent. During the same period, PHA tweets appeared on individual Twitter feeds more than 12,000 times.

Visit PHA at www.phassociation.org/TheRightHeart to find all of the Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month materials that you can use and share, including:

  • Social media profile frames and cover photos
  • Sample social media posts
  • A customizable press release
  • The Right Heart blog and a new Share Your Story form
  • Three downloadable fliers about PH and PHA you can print or email
  • A customizable proclamation for local elected officials
  • An easy way to create an online fundraiser for awareness month
  • Sample emails to send your legislators on National PH Day of Action
  • Free wallet cards with PH facts to order online
  • An email footer you can add below your signature

How are you helping to raise awareness? Share your success stories with us by emailing us at communications@phassociation.org or posting on one of PHA’s social media accounts: Facebook (www.facebook.com/PulmonaryHypertensionAssociation), Instagram (@PHAssociation), or Twitter (@PHAssociation).