We often hear about the perils of high blood pressure, but many Canadians are unaware that high blood pressure in the lungs - known as pulmonary hypertension (PH) - can also have fatal consequences. This month, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada hopes to raise awareness about PH - a rare but serious disease that can strike at any time and has no regard for race, age or gender.
"PH is often not recognized until it is quite advanced, and as a result, many people may have the disease without knowing it," says Darren Bell, President, Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada. "Sadly, this means it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage when survival rates are poor. We want to make sure Canadians learn more about the disease, as early diagnosis and treatment is crucial in delaying progression."
It is estimated that between 2,000 and 5,000 Canadians have been diagnosed with PH, but as many as 10,000 may be affected by the condition(1) - the exact number is unknown because few clinical trials have been done and many people are not diagnosed at the earlier stages of the disease. Early symptoms are subtle and include unexplained shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling of the feet and ankles, and fainting. Patients with certain types of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) - the most severe form of PH - only live an average of two to three years if left untreated.(2)
"PH is a complicated disease in which the arteries of the lungs become narrowed and may even close, because of scarring, resulting in high blood pressure in the lungs," said Dr. Sanjay Mehta, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Southwest Ontario PH Clinic in London, Ontario, and Medical Director, PHA-Canada. "As PH progresses, a patient's heart becomes enlarged and weaker, which often leads to a high risk of death."
A COMMUNITY UNITED IN THE FACE OF PH