Pulmonary hypertension patients are at risk of heart failure, and conversely, heart failure patients are at risk of developing pulmonary hypertension. This Heart Month, we’re posting tips for keeping your heart strong and healthy. Many pulmonary hypertension patients need to eat a low-salt diet, which helps with heart health. Switching to lower-sodium foods in today’s food environment can be tough! So many packaged and processed foods are high in sodium. One good tip is to fo

February is Black History Month in Canada. We join Canadian Heritage  in honouring Black excellence in Canada and celebrating the remarkable contributions that Black Canadians make to Canadian society every day. We’ve known for a long time that Black people in Canada don’t receive equitable health care , and as a result have worse health outcomes. Systemic racism in the health system—which doesn’t imply that individual health care providers are racist, but that the system as

Today I received the first phone call. An unknown doctor. Emotionless and professional, her question strikes quickly to the task at hand: "I have received paperwork. Tell me what's going on." Okay, big breath, I've been preparing for this... and yet I am disarmed by the sudden line of questioning from a stranger. Something deep within propels me forward and I find the simple words to define my truth:  "I have been living with pulmonary arterial hypertension for 5 years. IV me

A study found that chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertensio (CTEPH) patients had significantly more of an antioxidant enzyme (peroxiredoxin 2, or PRDX2) in their bloodstream compared to healthy patients. Using rats, the researchers determined that PRDX2 helped reduce inflammation, suggesting that it has a protective role and might have therapeutic use. Read the Scientific Reports article

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)  is rare, serious—and too often misunderstood. In Season 6 of The eXpand Podcast , advocates and medical experts explore why this life-threatening illness is frequently misdiagnosed, how it reshapes lives, and what new treatments offer for the future. Across three powerful episodes , the series reveals the personal, emotional, and clinical sides of PAH—bringing attention to an “invisible illness” that deserves to be seen, heard, and bette

In late 2025, the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute (PVRI) brought together people with pulmonary hypertension (PH) from around the world to create a series of short videos focused on empowerment—told by patients, for patients. Canada’s own Jane Sernoskie is featured in the video “Become a patient expert and advocate.” Thank you, Jane, for sharing your voice, and congratulations on being part of this international initiative. "Living with pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a

This study examined the causes of delayed diagnosis (diagnosis after approximately 22 months) of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and whether an earlier diagnosis (within six months) leads to better outcomes. They identified several factors associated with delayed diagnosis and found that earlier diagnosis and treatment were associated with better survival. Read the Pulmonary Circulation article

Sometimes the challenges we face in life lead us to make a difference in the world. When we were younger, our mom was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension. This sudden change in our lives at such a young age put us in a position where we had to develop a growth mindset and focus on caring for our mom, as the way she has cared for us ever since we came into this world. Seeing her fight this battle every day when she was struggling to do everyday tasks such as walking up the s

A relatively simple, inexpensive, and minimally invasive test for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) would aid in the diagnosis of this disease. This study found that levels of the NOTCH3 extracellular domain (NOTCH3-ECD) shed into blood serum could be used as a biomarker for IPAH. They found that NOTCH3-ECD levels did correlate with the presence and severity of IPAH. Read the Nature Medicine article

As pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients became sicker, their self-reported quality of life was significantly worse than their doctors recognized. This discordance was associated both with worse health-related quality of life scores and a higher WHO functional class score, so the sickest patients had the least agreement with their doctors. The researchers note that "it's self-evident that providers cannot deliver optimal treatment strategies nor best outcomes if they

Looking at the racial and ethnic breakdown of patients with PAH and patients who take part in clinical trials, the authors conclude that the goal of equitable representation has not yet been reached. The article includes a useful table of potential barriers to inclusive clinical trials and potential solutions. Read the Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension article

Visiting family or friends out of town is one of the joys of the holiday season. If you’re living with pulmonary hypertension, travelling may take a bit more planning, but with the right preparation, it can still be safe, comfortable, and enjoyable. A little foresight can go a long way toward helping you focus on what really matters: spending time with the people you love. Before you head out, here are some important things to keep in mind: Nutrition:  Finding lower-sodium op

Air pollution is known to be bad for heart and lung diseases, but this study looked at whether it affected pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in particular. They followed a cohort of patients for about three years and found that not only does exposure to high levels of air pollution increase the risk of death or lung transplantation for PAH patients, it made their pulmonary hypertension worse. People who lived in highly polluted areas were more likely to be categorized as.

December 5th is International Volunteer Day , we pause to celebrate the incredible people who are the heartbeat of our community: our volunteers . Whether you're living with pulmonary hypertension (PH), supporting a loved one, or simply passionate about making a difference—your dedication, time, and compassion are what make PHA Canada’s work possible. From running support groups and organizing local events, to serving on committees and sharing your lived experience, every act

For the past two days, PHA Canada Board member Beth Slaunwhite and I were in Ottawa enjoying the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD) conference "Co-Creating Canadian Rare". Pulmonary arterial hypertension and CTEPH are, of course, rare diseases, but there are so many others. Individually, each disease or disorder is rare, but collectively they're quite common: somewhere between one in ten and one in twelve Canadians has a rare disease. The first day dealt largely

One way PHA Canada helps improve the diagnosis and management of pulmonary hypertension (PH) is by reaching out and collaborating with healthcare professionals (HCPs). HCPs play a key role in ensuring that PH is recognized and investigated promptly, so patients receive the appropriate care and treatment, regardless of the type of PH they have.   PHA Canada has built strong, long-term relationships with PH expert centres across Canada. These centres mainly treat people with Gr

On Saturday, October 25th, I attended the Scleroderma Association of BC’s 2025 AGM and conference. For those unfamiliar - like myself a few weeks ago - scleroderma and pulmonary hypertension have a very interesting relationship, which is why PHA Canada usually has a booth set up at this annual meeting. Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that causes hardening and/or thickening of the skin and internal organs. Sound familiar? That’s because scleroderma patients are at risk of

A small study of patients with stable pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were randomly assigned to either no exercise program or an exercise program using kettlebells three days per week for 8 weeks. The kettlebell group had improved functional capacity, quality of life, and physical activity level, and reduced fatigue, dyspnea, anxiety and depression. Read the Respiratory Medicine article

“I definitely believe there’s significant value in the right heart cath at diagnosis. It’s known to be the gold standard for diagnosing pulmonary hypertension, providing the most accurate measurement of pulmonary artery pressures to determine if a patient has pulmonary hypertension.”
-- Nicole Dempsey For people living with pulmonary hypertension, right heart catheterizations are a necessary chapter in everyone's individual story. What do patients value about right heart cat

VANCOUVER, BC (Nov. 20, 2025) The Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada (PHA Canada) is delighted that the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) has successfully concluded negotiations on behalf of public drug payers for the price of Winrevair™ (sotatercept), a breakthrough treatment option for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a serious, complex, and potentially fatal rare lung disease. “This is great news for PAH patients. There is still a lot of work to d