As part of Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness month this November, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) is launching a unique storytelling campaign called The Right Heart. The year-long campaign will celebrate the many ways people who have pulmonary hypertension (PH) are living their best lives.
Part of the campaign includes The Right Heart blog and Facebook video stories of families, couples and individuals–in addition to live events that will feature people living with PH and some health care professionals working at an accredited PH program. The stories will illustrate how through connecting with others, adults with PH are building lasting friendships, going to college, building innovative careers and traveling. In the same manner, children with PH are growing, thriving, dreaming and having fun.
PH symptoms are often non-specific and consequently people with the disease go months, sometimes years, believing they have asthma or other less life-threatening illnesses. The campaign will show that with early and accurate diagnosis, quality care and appropriate treatments now available for two forms of PH — pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) — can extend and improve the quality of life for many people living with the disease.
The campaign will also use memes and other social media messages to educate the public about diseases that can be associated with PH and other realities about living with PH. These include but are not limited to congestive heart disease, COPD, scleroderma, lupus and other illnesses. PHA invites PHCC health care professionals and others in the community to learn how they can participate in the campaign by going to TheRightHeart.com and following @PHAssociation on Twitter and Instagram and by Liking its Facebook page.
