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If you’re living with pulmonary hypertension (PH), you’re already aware of the impact the condition can have on your life — but chances are strong that other people in your orbit don’t know as much as they could about the disease. That’s why it’s important to raise awareness for the medical condition — particularly in November, which is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month.
Raising awareness doesn’t just help other people understand your condition. Many myPHteam members have found that gaining more knowledge about the condition helps them make more informed decisions about treatments and strengthens their feelings of self-reliance.
“Since November is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month, I will be making informative posts throughout the month. Keep watching! It is up to us to keep informed and pass that on to others to educate and create awareness!” shared one myPHteam member.
Before you can create public awareness by sharing information with others, it’s a good idea to understand the specifics about PH. Learn more about PH’s causes, signs and symptoms, and treatment options.
Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the blood vessels that carry blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs. Pulmonary hypertension should not be confused with systemic hypertension — high blood pressure in blood vessels throughout the body. The symptoms of PH can often be confused for other conditions like asthma, so the diagnostic process requires you to see a specialist.
After you’re armed with information about PH, you can share it with others. The fastest and least expensive way for this kind of advocacy is through social media. You can post information about PH, share details about the condition, and join communities of other people who are also working to raise awareness about PH.
You can use these social media resources from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association to help raise awareness among your network.
Additionally, to ensure your messages on social media reach as many people as possible, consider using an appropriate PH-related hashtag, like #PulmonaryHypertension, #PHAwarenessMonth, or #LifeInPurple. This way, your posts will be seen by more people who have the same interests, and they’re more likely to share and comment.
Social media helps raise awareness for the condition, and it also allows other people with PH to realize they aren’t alone. Joining a PH community on social media, such as myPHteam, can also help you connect with others.
Another way to raise awareness about PH is to participate in an activity dedicated to the cause. You can walk or run for PH, play bingo, host a silent auction or fundraiser, or even create a unique event that works for your interests. You can help other people understand more about PH while having fun and raising money for the cause.
“Will you join me in wearing something purple tomorrow to help kick off this month?” asked one myPHteam member. “Promoting awareness is so important in order for people to recognize and be aware that such a disease as pulmonary hypertension exists and all its manifestations. It is a rare disease that probably most of us at diagnosis had never heard of before.”
“I, too, will wear purple and I will tell everyone in my family, because they are very supportive of me with my health care, so I know they will be more than happy to help us out,” another member responded.
If you are able to, you can also donate to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association to support PH research and advocacy.
On myPHteam, more than 38,000 people living with PH come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with the condition.
Share your PH journey in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.
Anika Brahmbhatt is an undergraduate student at Boston University, where she is pursuing a dual degree in media science and psychology. Learn more about her here.
