In April 2016, I found a lump on my leg, and like most adults, I ignored it for a couple of weeks. After seeing doctors, I did 6 weeks of oral antibiotics, 6 days of IV antibiotics, and 2 biopsies. They decided I needed to see a dermatologist. By the time I saw a dermatologist, the lump was gone, but he had an idea of what might have caused it, so he sent me for a chest X-ray. The X-ray showed an enlarged pulmonary trunk, and he sent me to a Cardiologist. The Cardiologist ord

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)  is a life-altering condition—but far too often, it remains underdiagnosed, misunderstood, and mismanaged. In a new episode of the eXpand  podcast by Respiplus  (Season 6), our Executive Director, Jamie Myrah , joins host Dr. Jean Bourbeau  to explore the complexities of PAH and its impact on patients across Canada. With nearly a decade of leadership at PHA Canada, Jamie brings the front-line perspective of patients, families, and care te

Through the Respite for All Pilot Project, led by SE Health and Greenshield Cares, caregivers across Canada who are working at least 30 hours per week can apply for 10 hours of free, home-based respite care. For this pilot program, respite care includes personal support care, help with activities of daily living, light home support, and companionship, but not clinical or regulated health services (nursing, providing injections, managing medical equipment, etc.) The pilot runs

Alberta has launched Lung Health Check, a new program using vans to bring pulmonary function tests to rural, remote, and Indigenous communities in Alberta. Patients won't need to travel long distances for pulmonary function tests -- the vans will bring the tests to them. This will save patients money as well as time, and will make ongoing pulmonary function monitoring easier. Patients can be as young as five years old, but the vans are not wheelchair-accessible so they must b

As we know, pulmonary arterial hypertension patients' lungs don't make enough nitric oxide, which is a vasodilator. But what if patients were given infusions of cells that were altered to produce blood vessel lining cells that would produce more nitric oxide in the lungs? Would it be a safe and effective treatment? The SAPPHIRE trial intended to find out. Participants randomly received either a placebo or an infusion of cells once a month for four months for a total of 80 mil

“This article captures the history and excellence of Canadian contributions to the field of pulmonary hypertension” Published in the Canadian Journal of Respiratory, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine  in October 2025, the comprehensive paper History of Respiratory Medicine in Canada: Pulmonary hypertension  was clearly a labour of love. Authors Dr. Sanjay Mehta and Dr. Namisha Singh, with contributions from Jamie Myrah and Dr. Robert D. Levy, took two years to write it. Settl

When it comes to rare diseases, Canada’s healthcare and research systems weren’t built to keep up. That’s where the Canadian Rare Disease Network (CRDN)  steps in—a new initiative working to change the rare disease journey for millions across the country. With over 7,000 known rare diseases affecting more than 3 million people in Canada, patients and families often face long diagnostic delays, limited treatment options, and fragmented care. CRDN was launched in 2024 to connec

Kate Salonga represents PHA Canada at the 2025 PH Professional Network Symposium hosted by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (US)....

This week, Statistics Canada released the results of their crowdsourced study on the lived experiences of Canadians (and their families...

On September 30, Canadians pause to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation , a time to honour the children, families, and...

At PHA Canada, we’re committed to providing clear, accessible resources to help patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals better...

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada (PHA Canada) is proud to announce a new partnership with Vision Quest Communications...

Yesterday, Colin Van De Wetering, a Registered Respiratory Therapist and Certified Respiratory Educator, joined our Monthly Meet-Up to...

For years, PHA Canada has been working to ensure that the drug approval process in Canada meets the needs of our pulmonary hypertension...

The Pulmonary Hypertension Global Patient Survey  (PHGPS), the largest survey to date to explore the perspectives of patients with PH at...

Here are a few things that the Canadian PHriends Facebook group members found make their lives easier. Around the house Air conditioning...

Applications for the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) open this week. If you're eligible for the Disability Tax Credit and you (and your...

On a beautiful June day filled with sunshine and warmth, our community gathered for a special fundraiser in honour of Andrew Barfoot....

What it is Yutrepia is a new drug: an inhaled form of treprostinil, a prostacyclin analogue. It was just approved by the Food and Drug...

The ZENITH study looked at some of the sickest pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients—those labelled as functional class 3...