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World PH Day Amplifies Global Voices United To Cure Pulmonary Hypertension

Members of the world pulmonary hypertension community will come together May 5 to raise awareness, support one another and advocate for PH.

WASHINGTON (PRWEB) April 19, 2023

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) joins more than 80 organizations around the world on Friday, May 5, to recognize World PH Day. World PH Day spotlights the global impact of pulmonary hypertension (PH), a rare, complex, life-threatening disease. PH has no cure and affects more than 75 million adults and children of all ethnicities globally. PH, or high blood pressure in the lungs, causes symptoms that include shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain.

PH is often underdiagnosed, misunderstood or misdiagnosed with more common illnesses, such as asthma. While there is no cure for PH, accurate early diagnosis and access to correct treatment can improve a patient's quality of life and life expectancy. Without treatment, the average length of survival is under three years.

PH can exist alone or in association with other conditions. In the U.S., PH is most associated with left heart disease. Other PH-associated conditions and risks include connective tissue disorders, blood clots to the lungs, HIV, sickle cell anemia, COPD, sarcoidosis and living in high altitudes. It has also been associated with methamphetamine use.

This year, PHA's World PH Day theme is "United to Cure PH," which aims to recognize the global strides made in improving the lives of those affected by PH and highlights the shared goal of finding a cure for the disease. PH can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, race, social or ethnic background. Although the disease is caused by different factors around the world, it affects everyone in a similar way.

"We've come a long way since the first therapies for PH were introduced over a decade ago. However, we still have not been able to address the underlying issues that cause PH," says Matt Granato, PHA president and CEO. "There is much hope ahead though, since new therapies under development aim to stop the progression, or even reverse the damage caused by the disease. It's truly been a global effort from industry, health care providers, organizations like PHA, caregivers and patients around the world to advance the knowledge and science on PH. Working jointly with a common objective, a brighter future for our community is much closer."

PHA encourages the global PH community to share what brings them hope in our united efforts towards finding a cure for PH and to help raise awareness on social media through posts using the #WorldPHDay2023 hashtag.

Individuals can visit the World PH Day page on PHA's website for more information about PH and to learn how they can participate in this year's campaign. PHA's World PH Day webpage includes a digital toolkit with educational messages, images and other social media resources. Spanish and French resources are also available.

In the U.S., to raise awareness and advocate on behalf of those with PH, PHA will host virtual legislative visits throughout May beginning on World PH Day, May 5. Advocates will meet with their legislators and ask them to protect access to affordable care by supporting the HELP Copays Act (H.R. 830); support reforms for supplemental oxygen access; and improve benefits management policies by supporting the Safe Step Act (S. 652).

PHA will offer a parallel online opportunity for the PH community to support advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill throughout May. People with PH, their caregivers and loved ones, and health care professionals can use PHA's Advocacy Action Center to write to their legislators. The PHA email template encourages Congress to reform supplemental oxygen access, ensuring those requiring supplemental oxygen can access the most appropriate type of oxygen for their needs.

PHA will host four in-person events in May:

About the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) is the 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 phassociation.Org/worldphday/ and connect with PHA on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: https://www.Prweb.Com/releases/world_ph_day_amplifies_global_voices_united_to_cure_pulmonary_hypertension/prweb19286772.Htm

We Should All Pay Attention To Our Health And Act Quickly In Aftermath Of World Pulmonary Hypertension Day

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World Hypertension Day: Cardiologist Establishes The Link Between Lifestyle And High BP – Shares Preventive Measures

New Delhi: Hypertension is the leading cause of stroke, heart disease, renal complications and premature death. However, very few of us really have the awareness that the condition is nothing but "high blood pressure." Yes, hypertension is commonly known as high blood pressure and can result due to many issues like family history, sedentary lifestyle, age, poor diet and stress among others. The pressure in arteries when the heart beats are known as systolic blood pressure and the pressure in arteries when the heart rests is called diastolic blood pressure.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the normal pressure level should be less than 120/80 mmHg. You are at risk of prehypertension in case of systolic: 120–139 mm Hg and diastolic: 80–89 mm Hg. Moreover, hypertension is caused when the systolic is 140 mm Hg or higher and the diastolic is 90 mm Hg or higher. The burden of hypertension across the world has evidently increased and in order to address this burgeoning problem, India has set a target of 25% reduction in hypertension by 2025. Steps like the Indian Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) are launched by the government to increase access to the treatment of the condition for more than 220 million people in India.

World Hypertension Day May 17th is marked as World Hypertension Day; dedicated to highlighting the significance of monitoring blood pressure and spreading global awareness about the life-threatening condition. Healthcare professionals and centres come forward to organise campaigns and understand activities that help people understand hypertension, its symptoms, causes and treatments. Regular health checkups can save us from a lot of trouble similarly if blood pressure is checked in time it can track the condition and help with the required treatment. Unhealthy lifestyle: The obstacle to preventing hypertension! A sedentary lifestyle and an imbalanced routine have been the cause of many critical health conditions lately. People, often in the corporate world, are so passionate about achieving unachievable results that they skip the red flags their body sends. Excessive smoking, consuming alcohol, lack of physical activities, bad diet (that includes a lot of junk and no seasonal fruits & vegetables, dairy, whole grains, protein etc) are all part of an unhealthy lifestyle. Being hooked to the screen on our palms is another reason why we are not really paying attention to our routine. Stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension – What is a hypertensive emergency? Stage 1 hypertension occurs when the top reading ranges from 130 to 139mm Hg or the bottom reading is 80 to 90 mmHg. Whereas, Stage 2 hypertension occurs when the top reading ranges from 140 mm Hg or higher or the bottom reading is 90 mmHg or higher.People with high blood pressure have face symptoms such as headaches, shortness of breath, and even nosebleeds.

These are not specific to everyone and do not always occur unless the high blood pressure has reached a life-threatening level. An acute, marked elevation in the blood pressure linked with signs of target-organ damage is a hypertensive emergency. The patient in such a condition must receive emergency medical help with blood pressure numbers higher than 180/120 mm Hg. Hypertensive emergency comprises cardiac ischemia, pulmonary edema, acute renal failure, eclampsia, aortic dissection, and neurologic deficits.

How to prevent hypertension? Who needs frequent check-ups? If not treated in time, hypertension can not only lead to heart attack but many other severe health issues. It is not compulsory that not people with underlying conditions or a history of hypertension in the family should only go for check-ups. Anyone starting at the age of 18 must get their blood pressure checked at least once in two years. Further, it can be as per the doctor's recommendation. Some people might need more frequent check-ups with medications to track and treat hypertension.

(The article is authored by Dr Vikas Chopra, Sr. Consultant Interventional Cardiologist-Department of Cardiology, Primus Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi)

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