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

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

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

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

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

“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

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to heart failure -- Group 2 PH -- has, until now, been treated by treating the underlying heart failure. However, a recent Phase 2 clinical trial, called CADENCE, tried treating PH due to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) with sotatercept. Phase 2 trials are small trials which look at the safety of a drug and at whether it seems to work. Full data have not been published yet, but CADENCE successfully met its primary endpoin

November is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month, but did you know that it’s also Financial Literacy Month  in Canada? The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada  – set up to protect consumers of financial products and services – is encouraging everyone to “Talk Money” this month. They’re hoping to help break down the stigma around financial discussions. PHA Canada has resources to help with financial literacy and financial assistance, too: Finance and PH resource list , detai

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