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Hello..
A note from the PHNA administrator
Please be advised that our website will be undergoing some reconstruction as we become a nation-wide organisation. We will endeavour to have everything up to date and operational as we add in and change information to accommodate the other states of Australia as quickly as possible and ask for your patience as we build this into our site. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us. We update our site on a regular basis and offer new and interactive viewing for you so come back and visit us often. Thank you from the Director of PHNA |
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Click to see latest edition or subscribe for your FREE copy today!
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Introducing the new booklet Better Living with PAH from the our peak body the Lung Foundation Australia. We are pleased to present this booklet as part of a series on living better with lung disease that now includes Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. This booklet is easy to read and understand and gives the new and existing patient an opportunity to really understand the definitions and disease process of PAH. We highly recommend this resource to the community. You can go online (below) to download, or contact us or the LFA for your own copy. Better Living with PAH Booklet - Fact Sheet on PAH
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Seasonal Winter Information & Tips (Click for more)
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A little background....
Hello, welcome to the PHNA website launched in November 2015. Our site is a community information and support network for Australia. We aim to assist people living with pulmonary hypertension, family, friends, and carers. We have provided "Quick Links to our Website" specifically to assist newly diagnosed or long term PH patients, the medical & health professionals, along with other valuable organisations to help you live well with your PH.
We hope that the general community can benefit from the information on our site, especially if they have a loved one or a friend with PH. You will find our website is very much an extension of our quarterly magazine "PHan Mail", in that it is bright, colourful and uplifting, while being realistic and informative. PHNA strives to provide you with a one stop shop approach to the information, support and resources you need. PHNA aims to offer resources and information to help raise awareness about Pulmonary Hypertension for people living with pulmonary hypertension, their family, friends, and carers. We are also committed to raising awareness amongs't other organisations, healthcare professionals and the wider community. Our aim is to continue to create a network across Australia with other like minded organisations to help raise the PH profile throughout our great nation. Through these partnerships we can ensure that patients living with PH have the resources, information, and support they need no matter which state they live in.
PHNA have gathered together the most relevant & up-to-date information for people living with pulmonary hypertension, either written and produced directly through us (see our PH Patient Pack & Resources) or shared with you and adapted from other respected organisations. We have endeavoured to present information in an easy to navigate format. We have offered other links to our sister groups, where necessary, and relevant, to further expand your information base. There are a great many new and exciting developments in the world of Pulmonary Hypertension. With more effective treatments being available people with pulmonary hypertension have the opportunity to manage their disease better, and achieve a higher quality of physical, emotional, and psychological health and well being. |
PHNA is an independent, non-profit, nationwide organisation based in Western Australia. Our organisations network includes people living with pulmonary hypertension, their family, friends, carers, volunteers, healthcare professionals, business and community members, and many other professional organisations within this sector. The people in our network work on a volunteer basis, to help improve the lives of people with this rare and serious disease. We recognise the Lung Foundation Australia as the peak body for all lung diseases in Australia (based in Queensland).
Make a Difference As a non-profit organisation, Pulmonary Hypertension Network Australia relies on donations and educational grants to continue its patient assistance programs, awareness raising, and education initiatives. We raise all our own funds. If you would like to become part of the PHNA support team official partners and sponsors please contact us today. How Can I Help? There are many ways you can help. Become a member or , volunteer, join "The Pledge Initiative" for corporate & small business, make a donation (all donations $2.00 are tax deductible), become a part of our Community Fundraising Hero's Group. Help us continue to improve the quality of life for people living with pulmonary hypertension in Australia and celebrate its success's together. Click Here for more. |
Understanding Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) & Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)
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What is the difference between Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)?
There is an important difference between PH & PAH. Pulmonary hypertension is a general term and simply means high blood pressure in the lung. The high blood pressure can be caused by many medical conditions such as diseases of the left heart, chronic lung diseases, sleep apnoea, and blood clots in the lungs. PAH is a specific cause of Pulmonary Hypertension when the arteries of the lungs are directly diseased and become narrowed. It is very important that the exact cause of PH is determined since treatment must be directed at the underlying condition. What is Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)? Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is the medical term for a progressive disease caused by narrowing or tightening (constriction) of the pulmonary arteries that connect the right side of the heart to the lungs. PAH is a serious condition that affects the blood vessels (pulmonary arteries) that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. PAH is the medical term for a progressive disease caused by narrowing or tightening (constriction) of the pulmonary arteries that connect the right side of the heart to the lungs. PAH gradually restricts the flow of blood through the lungs. As a result, the pressure in the pulmonary arteries increases. The heart must pump against this increased pressure to maintain blood flow in the lungs and to the rest of the body. Over time, this can affect the heart's ability to work effectively and may eventually lead to heart failure. Although PAH is an uncommon condition, it is a disease that can affect males and females of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Very rarely, PAH occurs in childhood. |
This makes early diagnosis very important as treatment can alleviate many of the symptoms associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension, improving people's quality of life. Treatment and ongoing management by specialist pulmonary hypertension doctors, nurses, and their healthcare team is vital.
People with certain existing medical conditions can also be at a higher risk of developing pulmonary hypertension CLICK (for more info). Currently their is no cure for this serious progressive disease but every year new and improved medications and treatments are being developed which have prolonged and improved the lives of those living with this disease. (Part of this explanation for PH/PAH was shared with you from the Lung Foundations Better Living Series PAH - A Patients Guide. For your own complete guide contact PHNA or LFA). 
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Take a look at some of these QUICK links...
Become a PHNA Member Free and join a global network of organisations who have joined together to provide you with the best possible support, information & resources.
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PHNA is proudly supported, sponsored and endorsed by the following organisations and business's. We are extremely grateful to them for making our PH Patient Projects, Administration & Events possible through their generosity and involvement in our community for people living with pulmonary hypertension. |
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Omega Dental Ceramics
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PHNA proudly share educational information and resources with you from various sectors including PHAssociation.org our USA sister group and access other information from the following organisations and other reputable PH & associated organisations.
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