Awareness Month: Tools to Discover PH

Tools to Discover PH

Each November, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) provides tools to help people living with pulmonary hypertension (PH), their loved ones and health care professionals raise awareness of PH among the public, health care providers, those at risk for PH and those who are new to the PH community. This year’s campaign provided tools to help people “Discover PH.”

The highlight of the 2020 campaign was an interactive PH Awareness Month Calendar. It worked like a simple computer game: Users clicked on the date to discover facts, tools and rewards to educate people about PH risk factors, symptoms and resources.

Each day, the calendar revealed new information and downloadable resources to discover and share, similar to a virtual Advent calendar. Instead of chocolate, participants could download phone and desktop backgrounds, coloring pages for children, social media graphics and other information to promote PH awareness.

The site offered many ways to take part in PH Awareness Month. As in previous years, it featured a toolkit with social media graphics, sample posts, profile and cover images, customizable news releases, and fliers for health care professionals to print and post in their offices and clinics.

Awareness Month activities also featured a Day of Action Nov. 10 and CTEPH Awareness Day Nov. 11. The Day of Action aimed to educate Congress about the devastating health and lifestyle effects of PH. PHA asked the community to share stories to help lawmakers understand the importance of funding research and ensuring accessible, affordable health care.

On CTEPH Awareness Day, PHA drew attention to chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), a form of PH caused by blood clots in the lungs that harden over time and impede blood flow. It offered Q&As in English and Spanish with doctors and patients. Weekly Facebook Live events also addressed PH, connective tissue disease, and methamphetamine use in a four-week “Ask the Experts” series. Recordings of the Facebook Live Q&As are available at PHAssociation.org/AwarenessMonth, where you also can find the calendar, toolkit and other information.