November is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) has designated November as Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month and every November they work to light the way to a better tomorrow through research, fundraising, advocacy and awareness of pulmonary hypertension (PH)– a rare and debilitating disease of the lungs that affects the functioning of the heart and can lead to right heart failure. Without treatment, the average survival rate is only 2.8 years.

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association is the country’s leading pulmonary hypertension organization. Its mission is to find ways to prevent and cure pulmonary hypertension and provide hope for the community through support, education research and advocacy and awareness. PHA does this by connecting and working together with the entire PH community of patients, families and medical professionals. PHA facilitates more than 245 support groups around the country and delivers continuing education for medical professionals through the PHA Online University.

For a small rare disease organization, PHA has seen incredible growth. The number of treating physicians has grown from 100 in 1996 to more than 10,000 today. The treatment of the disease has grown from one FDA approved drug in 1996 to 12 in 2014 with more on the horizon. Three of those treatments were approved in the last quarter of 2013. PH now has as many or more treatments than all but two of the 7,000 identified rare diseases.

Special events such as The Woodlands CrawPHish Festival help raise funds to help find a cure. The Festival is slated for Saturday, March 28, 2015, from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., at Town Green Park. Attendees enjoy crawfish, BBQ, kids’ activities provided by The Woodlands Young Learners Academy and Painting with a Twist, Texas country singer Jack Ingram, and plenty of family fun and entertainment.

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association and The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals work together to produce this community event to increase awareness and raise funds for Pulmonary Hypertension (PH).

The ticketed event is open to the public for sponsorships and individual admissions. Proceeds benefit the Pulmonary Hypertension Association – (501©3 - Tax ID 65-0880021). Tickets may be purchased in advance for a discounted price at The Chamber’s Office, Guest Services at The Woodlands Mall, Concierge’s at Market Street, or online. Contact Matacha Saul at 281-367-2222 or by email via the icon below for sponsor information.

For general information or more information about pulmonary hypertension, email megancrawford@phassociation.org or call 281-367-2222/281-363-8112 or visit the festival’s website at the link provided below.

The PH community is crucial to the advancement of research and awareness of the disease. “Our mantra is that any person whose life is touched by PH has the right to fight back as much or as little as health and interest will allow. Our job at PHA is to make that possible,” said Rino Aldrighetti, PHA President and CEO. “We are the torch bearers to light the way to a better tomorrow for every person affected by this disease.”

PHA fights every day for its community of patients, caregivers and medical professionals. Our public service announcements are playing in TV and radio stations across the country and in New York City taxicabs. We have launched PHAware.org to increase awareness of PH and ways for the public to get involved. Please join us in the race for a cure and help take PH From Rare to Everywhere!??