GET INVOLVED
Raise Awareness
By educating others about PH,
you can help save lives.
When you raise awareness of PH, you:
-
Encourage people to take their symptoms seriously & to seek medical attention
-
Support families to advocate for themselves as they search for answers
-
Help doctors & other healthcare professionals recognize the symptoms of PH & reduce delays to proper diagnosis
-
Ensure governments & decision makers make support for people with PH a priority, including providing access to treatment
-
Create a supportive & understanding community where Canadians affected by PH feel less alone & more hopeful
Why is raising awareness so important?
If you or a loved one has been touched with pulmonary hypertension, you know that lack of awareness is one of our greatest challenges. But by coming together to raise awareness, each and every one of us can do our part to educate healthcare professionals, family members, friends, and the larger community of the challenges of living with pulmonary hypertension.
​
If those affected by PH do not tell others about it, no one will. Education leads to earlier diagnosis and better access to effective treatment. By raising your voice, you can help us shine a spotlight on this disease and make everyone, from doctors to politicians, take notice.
Sometimes It’s PH: Achieving Earlier Diagnosis of PH
Did you know that without treatment, the average life expectancy of a person with PH is less than three years? Unfortunately, many patients in Canada spend two to three years of their life seeking an accurate diagnosis. It's critical that we diagnose PH quicker so that people can feel better sooner and for much longer.
​
Because pulmonary hypertension shares many of its symptoms with more common conditions like asthma, COPD, anxiety, and more, it can take longer for patients to get a correct diagnosis. PHA Canada's Sometimes It's PH campaign aims to increase awareness of PH among healthcare providers and encourages them to refer patients with suspected PH to a specialized PH Centre. The campaign also helps people who are at an increased risk of PH understand why and what they can do to promote early detection.
Visit Sometimes It's PH for more information, or download a printable hand-out to share with your own medical team.
Share Your Story
Raising awareness can be as simple as telling your own story. This can include talking to the media, presenting to your school/workplace/community group, or contributing to Connections Magazine. Nothing is more powerful and educates people better than sharing the story of how PH has affected your life. Your story matters.
Are you looking for help sharing your story or getting your idea off the ground? PHA Canada is available to support all your awareness-raising efforts. Contact us at info@phacanada.ca or 1-877-774-2226 for help today.