Shedding Light on Pulmonary Arterial
Hypertension
The Journey Toward
a Brighter Future
(view flyer)
Course Description
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease
characterized by high blood pressure in the lungs. Stress is placed
on the heart as it attempts to pump blood through the pulmonary
artery to the lungs. This condition can become life-threatening.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, chronic fatigue,
dizziness, fainting, edema, and chest pain. These symptoms make
simple physical activity very difficult, if not impossible. PAH
affects more than 100,000 people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds
in the US. There is no known cure.
Until the introduction in late 2001 of the first oral medication
indicated for the treatment of PAH, patients had little hope of
obtaining effective medical care in their own community. Unless
they lived in areas with established centers for management of
PAH, many patients did not receive effective treatment. Many were
unable or unwilling to travel to these specialized centers. At
the time the oral medication was introduced, fewer than 3000 patients
were receiving the first approved treatment for PAH, which required
continuous infusion via an implanted central venous catheter.
Now we are a crossroads, with 5 FDA approved medical treatments,
over 100,000 patients in the country, and hundreds of new doctors
emerging in the treatment and care of PH patients.
This program is designed to educate both healthcare providers
and patients about PAH. With up-to-date knowledge of the disease
process, physicians and other healthcare providers will be better
able to recognize early signs of PAH and know which populations
are at greater risk. Patients will gain a better understanding
of their treatment options and the importance of effective disease
management. Early identification and appropriate treatment can
significantly improve outcomes for people with PAH.
