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Vancouver, British Columbia (May 5, 2020)— May 5th is World Pulmonary Hypertension Day and takes place as social distancing measures have been in place for nearly two months. This year, pulmonary hypertension patients and caregivers ask people to continue to make efforts to protect the vulnerable and help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
 
Read the stories of patients and caregivers across the country:
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a rare and potentially fatal lung disease. COVID-19 can worsen the symptoms of a chronic lung disease like PH and lead to more severe illness. The life of patients and caregivers affected by PH has become even more challenging while they work to protect themselves from the coronavirus.
 

“World PH Day is normally a day to celebrate the resiliency of the PH community and the important advancements being made in diagnosis and treatment. This year, it’s an opportunity to call on our fellow Canadians to dig a little deeper and keep staying at home. Your kindness helps keep vulnerable people safe.” – Jamie Myrah, PHA Canada Executive Director

 
World PH Day is the opportunity to make people realize that we can’t give up on social distancing measures now, since vulnerable people – like PH patients – remain at risk of severe illness. To raise awareness, monuments across the country will be illuminated in purple on May 5th, including Niagara Falls, the Edmonton High Level Bridge, and BC Place and the Sails of Light in Vancouver. The Canadian PH community will also participate in PHA Canada’s annual #PaintCanadaPurple campaign on social media.
 
World Pulmonary Hypertension Day is an annual global event to raise awareness of pulmonary hypertension (PH), a severe condition affecting the lungs and heart. PH affects more than 25 million people worldwide, including up to 10,000 Canadians. Over 80 international PH patient associations participate in World PH Day by organizing national awareness campaigns: www.worldphday.org.
 
Background
About Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a rare and very complex lung disease, which is progressive and potentially fatal. PH is defined by high blood pressure in the lungs, which leads to enlargement and weakness of the right-side of the heart—a serious type of heart failure. PH can strike people of all backgrounds, ages, and genders. While there is currently no cure for PH, thanks to available treatments, many patients are living longer, healthier lives.
 
About the Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada (PHA Canada)
PHA Canada is a federally registered charity whose mission is to empower the Canadian pulmonary hypertension community through support, education, advocacy, awareness, and research. PHA Canada has been working to better the lives of Canadians affected by pulmonary hypertension since 2008.
 
For more information, please visit: www.phacanada.ca/worldphday 
World PH Day