Observed annually on May 5, World Pulmonary Hypertension Day is a global effort to raise awareness of pulmonary hypertension, a serious and often misdiagnosed condition that affects the lungs and heart. Led by PHA Europe, the global campaign brings together PH organizations and advocates to coordinate global efforts around awareness and education.

This year, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association joins the campaign, “Sometimes it’s Pulmonary Hypertension,” to highlight the challenges patients face in getting an accurate diagnosis. PH is a complex and progressive condition that affects people of all ages and backgrounds. It occurs when the arteries in the lungs become narrowed, stiffened or damaged, forcing the right side of the heart to work harder to pump blood through. Over time, the added strain can lead to right heart failure and death. Symptoms, including shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain, are often non-specific and easily mistaken for less serious conditions. As a result, many patients go undiagnosed for months or even years, delaying proper treatment and prolonging the uncertainty and progression of the disease.

The campaign sheds light on the often frustrating and frightening journey people with PH experience before finally hearing the words, “It’s PH.”

On May 5, join others around the world to raise awareness of this frequently misdiagnosed disease and celebrate the lives of those living with PH. Key activities occurring throughout the month include:

• PHA’s 6-Minute Challenge: From May 1-31, join PHA’s inaugural virtual 6-Minute Challenge. Commit to six minutes of daily activity, such as walking, chair yoga or pickleball, to honor World PH Day and support those living with PH. Learn more and sign up now.

• World PH Day Hill Day. This year, community members from across the country will meet with members of Congress in person on May 6 and virtually on May 7 to share their stories and advocate for policies that improve the lives of those affected by pulmonary hypertension. Advance registration was required by April 10 to participate. We’re grateful to everyone who signed up to raise their voices for the PH community. Learn more.

• National Virtual Support Groups: PHA’s Patient and Caregiver Virtual Support Groups will host national meetings focused on mental health. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been managing PH for years, these virtual meetings offer a chance for you to connect with others who understand life with PH. Join from anywhere via Zoom. RSVP to the contacts below to receive the meeting link:

• • Patient Support Group: May 22 at 8 p.m. ET – RSVP to Carla.

• • Caregiver Support Group: May 21 at 7 p.m. ET – RSVP to Michele

Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky to celebrate World PH Day. Don’t forget to include #WorldPHDay2025 and tag PHA in your posts. Use the graphics provided below and those in the World PH Day Toolkit, to change your social media profile images and cover photos.

PH is a general term for high blood pressure in the lungs caused by various underlying conditions. There are five different PH groups based on different causes. 

Group 1: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension may arise without a known cause (idiopathic), be heritable, or develop alongside conditions such as congenital heart disease or liver disease. It can also be triggered by drug use, including diet pills or methamphetamines, or linked to connective tissue diseases like lupus or scleroderma.  

In the developing world, the most common cause of PAH is schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease that affects millions. An estimated 20 million people, mostly in Africa and Asia, develop a severe form of PH when the parasite’s eggs block the pulmonary arteries.  

Citation: Papamatheakis DG, Mocumbi AO, Kim NH, Mandel J. Schistosomiasis-associated pulmonary hypertension. Pulm Circ. 2014;4(4):596–611. doi:10.1086/678507 

Group 2: PH Due to Left Heart Disease

In economically developed countries, the most common cause of PH stems from left heart disease, which affects more than 26 million people worldwide. Conditions such as valvular disease or systolic or diastolic dysfunction can back up blood flow from the lungs, increasing pressure in the pulmonary arteries. 

Citation: Savarese G, Lund LH. Global Public Health Burden of Heart Failure. Card Fail Rev. 2017;3(1):7–11. doi:10.15420/cfr.2016:25:2 

Group 3: PH Due to Lung Disease

Lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea and prolonged exposure to high altitudes can scar lung tissue and lead to PH. More than 140 million people worldwide live 10,000 feet or more above sea level, an elevation linked to chronic lung stress.  

Citation: Mirrakhimov AE, Strohl KP. High-altitude Pulmonary Hypertension: an Update on Disease Pathogenesis and Management. Open Cardiovasc Med J. 2016;10:19–27. Published 2016 Feb 8. doi:10.2174/1874192401610010019 

Group 4: PH Due to Blood Clots in the Lungs

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is a rare but progressive form of PH caused by blood clots in the lungs. Up to 4% of people who have had a pulmonary embolism go on to develop CTEPH. 

Citation: McNeil K, Dunning J. Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Heart. 2007;93(9):1152–1158. doi:10.1136/hrt.2004.053603 

Group 5: PH Due to Blood and Other Disorders

PH can develop as a secondary condition to other diseases, including blood disorders, systemic diseases affecting the lungs and metabolic conditions. Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that affects various organs and can lead to PH when increased pressure in the lungs causes weakening and ultimately failure of the right side of the heart. 

Citation: Diaz-Guzman E, Farver C, Parambil J, Culver DA. Pulmonary hypertension caused by sarcoidosis. Clin Chest Med. 2008;29(3):549–x. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2008.03.010