Contact:
Katherine Kroner
Pulmonary Hypertension Association
(301) 565-3004 x109
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pulmonary Hypertension Association Announces Launch of "Faces of PAH" National Public Awareness Campaign
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Initiative to Kick Off at NASDAQ Ceremony
Commemorating Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month
Silver Spring, MD – November 2, 2005 – The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) today announced the launch of its new national disease awareness campaign, “Faces of PAH,” to draw attention to a life-threatening blood vessel disorder of the lung. The initiative’s kick-off coincides with PHA ringing the bell at NASDAQ this morning, along with Encysive Pharmaceuticals, to usher in Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month. The goal of the campaign is to raise the profile of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rare and often undiagnosed disease which afflicts an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 people worldwide.
“PAH is a devastating disease that has a history of being overlooked and misunderstood by most Americans,” said Rino Aldrighetti, President of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. “November is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month, and PHA is poised to bring our “Faces of PAH” campaign to major markets in the United States. This initiative will share the stories of heroic PAH patients and their families in an effort to increase understanding of this life-threatening disease.”
The “Faces of PAH” campaign includes PAH patient ambassadors highlighting their personal struggle with the disease, therapeutic progress, personal achievements and other inspirational milestones captured in educational materials, such as posters and brochures. These educational materials will be made available in doctors’ offices and PAH treatment centers with the goal of promoting a dialogue between doctor and patient. The campaign will also generate public awareness of the disease through media interviews with patients and PAH thought leaders.
The “Faces of PAH” campaign is made possible by an unrestricted grant to PHA by Encysive Pharmaceuticals.
About PAH
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a condition involving high blood pressure and structural changes in the walls of the pulmonary arteries, which are the blood vessels that connect the right side of the heart to the lungs. Affecting people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds – but most commonly found in young women of child-bearing years – the disease has historically been chronic and incurable, with a poor survival rate. PAH is often not diagnosed in a timely manner because its early symptoms can be confused with those of many other pulmonary and respiratory conditions. Symptoms include shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, dizziness, fainting, swollen ankles and legs and chest pain (especially during physical activity). With proper diagnosis, there are currently several therapies to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life for PAH patients. The key is to find a PAH specialist and pursue immediate treatment.
About Pulmonary Hypertension Association
The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) is a nonprofit membership organization that provides a community of hope through mutual support, medical and public education, and research. Beginning in 1990, three patients and a family member working with their own doctors began to locate others with the condition. From its humble beginnings around a “kitchen table,” PHA has grown to incorporate over 6,000 members, and 19,000 additional supporters and friends from 61 nations. These include patients, caregivers, physicians and other health professionals treating the disease.
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