PHA Canada Launches Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month: United in Action to Ease the Pressure

November marks Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Awareness Month, and the Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada (PHA Canada) is calling on Canadians to take action to raise awareness, advocate for access to a life-changing treatment, and fundraise in support of the PH community.

This year’s theme, “Heart Under Pressure,” shines a spotlight on the physical, emotional, and systemic pressures that come with living with PH—a progressive and potentially fatal disease affecting the arteries in the lungs. The campaign calls for compassion, action, and unity in the pursuit of a future where no heart lives under pressure.

What Is Pulmonary Hypertension (PH)?

Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the lungs’ arteries, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood through the lungs. Though symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue may resemble those of other conditions, PH is distinct—and dangerous. Its complexity often results in delayed diagnosis and limited treatment options. Without proper care, PH can quickly progress and significantly impact quality of life.

Ways to Get Involved

Throughout the month of November, PHA Canada invites individuals, families, and communities across the country to get involved in one or more of the following ways:

• Raise Awareness: Use the Awareness Toolkit to share facts, graphics, and personal stories. Follow and amplify PHA Canada’s social media posts using #HeartUnderPressure and #PHAwareness.

• Fundraise: Join or support the 6-Minute Walk for Breath on November 22, a coast-to-coast event inspired by a standard test used in PH care. Canadians can participate virtually or at local in-person events to raise funds and awareness for PH.

• Advocate: Join the Time Matters PAH campaign by sending a letter to government decision-makers urging swift action on public access to sotatercept, a groundbreaking new treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Time Still Matters: Advocacy for Sotatercept Access

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and severe form of PH that affects the small arteries in the lungs, causing them to narrow and stiffen. In 2024, sotatercept—a first-in-class therapy that significantly reduces disease progression and mortality risk—was approved by Health Canada and recommended for public funding.

However, nearly a year later, public access is still not in place. Negotiations between the manufacturer and the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) have been ongoing since April 2025, leaving patients waiting.

The Time Matters PAH campaign was launched to urge a swift resolution. Every month of delay means PAH patients continue to live with worsening symptoms, without access to a therapy that could drastically improve their quality of life.

We can’t afford to lose more time. People living with PAH have already waited long enough. We’re asking Canadians to raise their voices—again—because time still matters.

For more information and to get involved during PH Awareness Month, visit: www.phacanada.ca/phawarenessmonth

About the Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada (PHA Canada) 

PHA Canada is a federally registered charity whose mission is to empower the Canadian pulmonary hypertension community through support, education, advocacy, awareness, and research. PHA Canada was established in 2008 by patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to work together to better the lives of Canadians affected by pulmonary hypertension and represent a united national pulmonary hypertension community.

For more information about the Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada, please visit www.phacanada.ca.

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Media Contact:

Jeremy Durand

Manager, Marketing & Communications

Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada

jdurand@phacanada.ca