PH Insights

Guest: Colleen Connor, PHA Board of Trustees, PH patient and advocate

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association accredited care center network was established over a decade ago to raise the quality of pulmonary hypertension care and expand patient access to specialized care and resources.

In this episode, Colleen Connor shares the importance of PHA-accredited care centers, their approach to building your PH care team and its impact on her journey. She also highlights the benefits of the team-based approach used and how families can locate a center in their area.

If you would like more information on the PHA-accredited care center program or find a center in your area, please visit https://phassociation.org/phcarecenters/

Guest: Mrinalini Krishnan, MD, FACC, regional director of pulmonary hypertension, MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute

In this episode of PH Insights, Mrinalini Krishnan discusses pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease, the most common cause of PH.  Approximately 60% of people with LHD develop PH. Krishnan highlights the risk factors and signs and symptoms of PH-LHD that you should monitor over time. She also provides an overview of available treatment options.

Download the Pulmonary Hypertension and Left Heart Disease brochure for more information.

Guest: Akshay Muralidhar, MD, co-director Pulmonary Hypertension Program at Arizona Pulmonary Specialists

In this episode, Akshay Muralidhar provides an overview of pulmonary arterial hypertension and how a PAH diagnosis may affect a person’s daily activities and quality of life. He also shares the benefits of exercise and how a safe regimen can improve cardiovascular health and lead to reduced symptoms. Muralidhar provides a summary of the types of exercises suitable for PAH and tips for setting achievable goals.

For information on finding an exercise plan that works for you, visit Living with PH. Please consult your physician before making any changes to your exercise routine. to ensure your plan is the right one for you.

Guest: Michele Freeman, licensed professional counselor and PHA support group leader

In this excerpt from PH Insights episode, “Relax and Recharge: Practical Strategies for Managing Stress,” Freeman leads listeners through a guided mindfulness exercise to assist with reducing stress during difficult circumstances.

Guest: Michele Freeman, licensed professional counselor and PHA support group leader.

In this episode, Freeman provides an overview of the impact of stress and trauma to a person’s body while living with a chronic illness. She then leads listeners through a mindful meditation exercise designed to help manage stress. Additionally, she shares information about the importance of supportive care and why those in the PH community should consider joining a support group.

 For more information on in-person and virtual support groups discussed in this episode, please visit https://phassociation.org/support/

Nadine Al-Naamani, assistant professor of medicine with the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care at University of Pennsylvania and past recipient of the PHA/ATS Research Fellowship and the Aldrighetti Research Award for Young Investigators; incoming Steering Committee Chair of the PHA Registry

Matthew R. Lammi, associate professor of medicine of Johns Hopkins University and current Research Committee Chair and PHA Board Member

In this episode, Matthew R. Lammi, associate professor of medicine of Johns Hopkins University, current Research Committee Chair and Nadine Al-Naamani, assistant professor of medicine at University of Pennsylvania and past recipient of the PHA/ATS Research Fellowship and the Aldrighetti Research Award for Young Investigators continue the conversation on how research impacts the pulmonary hypertension community. Al-Naamani shares the progression of her career after receiving PHA award and the greater impact of her research on understanding the relationship between body muscle and fat and the underlying disease process in PH.

For more information visit, https://phassociation.org/research/

Guests:

Todd Bull, recipient of 2006 PHA/ATS Research Fellowship Award and incoming Scientific Leadership Council Chair, past Chair of the SLC Research Committee and Rachel Hopper, Associate Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Program, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford recipient of Robyn Barst Pediatric PH Research and Mentoring Award

In this episode, Todd Bull, professor of medicine and director of University of Colorado Health, Pulmonary Vascular Disease Clinic and Rachel Hopper, associate director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford discuss the significance of research in the field of pulmonary hypertension, with a focus on pediatric studies. They explore the impact of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association's research grant awards on advancing careers and improving patient care. Hopper shares her journey in pediatric cardiology after receiving the Robyn Barst Pediatric PH Research and Mentoring Award – a one-year mentorship opportunity for clinicians and researchers in the field of pediatric PH. She also shares the challenges faced in studying pulmonary hypertension in children, and the importance of continued support for research initiatives.

Guest: Paul Critser, MD, PhD; Pediatric Cardiologist, Heart Institute Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

In this episode, Critser provides an overview of Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension and how it may differ from adults living with PH. Critser shares the unique challenges a child living with PH may face from diagnosis to long-term management. He shares his insights on the signs a parent should look for, the latest treatment advancements, research, and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to care. Tune in to this episode to learn the essential information families should know about pediatric PH.

In this episode of the PH Insights podcast, Angela Michelle and Mark Porter share their personal journeys with CTEPH and the pivotal decision to undergo pulmonary thromboendarterectomy surgery. They offer candid insights into their diagnoses, the challenges they faced and the life-changing impact of PTE surgery. Listeners will learn about the emotional and physical toll of CTEPH, the decision-making process behind pursuing surgery and life after the procedure.

Guests: Jordan Whitson, MD, transplant pulmonologist, Duke Pulmonary and Specialty Services Clinic and Diane Ramirez, PHA Board of Trustees member and heart and lung transplant recipient

Transplantation may be a treatment option reserved for patients who are not improving on medical therapies. While transplantation can prolong survival, improve quality of life and offer a potential cure for pulmonary hypertension, it also carries risk of significant complications, and many factors need to be considered before going forward. In this episode of PH Insights, Whitson discusses what a transplant recipient can expect before and after surgery. Heart and lung transplant recipient, Diane Ramirez  joins him to share her experience with the transplant process and how she’s feeling a year post transplantation.