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Support from family, friends has helped local woman deal with chronic lung disease "It's progressive, there is no cure, it will eventually get worse. But you have to go back to work, but she could only to live in the here and now, and you remanage it for about a year, and has ally appreciate life." been off since then. She credits her daughter with sav"It's a big adjustment. I love spend- ing her life, because the diagnosis ing the time with the kids," said Doyle, came following her pregnanwho has to visit the clinic cy. She's also very grateful to at Toronto General reguDr. Browning. larly for follow-up. The disease affects up to She has limitations 210,000 Canadians and acnow. She's only allowed cording to a recent survey 1,500 ml of fluid a day only one in five Canadians and has to closely watch associated swollen ankles, her sodium intake. legs or abdomen with sympSymptoms of the distoms of pulmonary hyperease are difficulty breathtension. It has a very low ing, fatigue, chest pain profile, even among medical and faintness. professionals, and as a reCAROL Doyle says "it's been a sult is often misdiagnosed or DOYLE rough road." confused with a host of other "It gets difficult. My illnesses. husband has been aweEarly symptoms are subtle and insome," she said. clude unexplained shortness of breath, She added she also has an "awesome fatigue, swelling of the feet and ankles network of neighbours" who help her and fainting. when needed. "Early detection and prompt treatment can significantly improve patients' symptoms, quality of life and long-term outcomes," said Dr. Sanjay Mehta, professor of medicine and Director for the Southwest Ontario PH Clinic in London, Ontario and Medical Director of PHA Canada. Mehta said they are trying to increase awareness and education "for · Unexplained difficulty breathing this invisible, incurable, but treatable or shortness of breath (also known disease so that we can offer patients as dyspnea) the best outcomes possible as we con· Chest pain tinue to work towards a cure." · Inability to exercise The several treatment options avail· Faintness or passing out (also able means pulmonary hypertension known as syncope) patients are living longer and healthier You may have PH if you have a lives. family history of PH in a close relaOne such advancement is the Ontartive (parents, siblings, children) io Ministry of Health and Long Term You may have PH if you already Care's recent decision to revise existhave a condition of the heart or ing Exceptional Access Program (EAP) lungs or another medical condition criteria to include funding of combithat can cause PH including: nation therapy for people living with · Heart disease such as heart failpulmonary arterial hypertension. ure "This decision is an important step · Lung disease such as emphyfor PH patients in this province. PHA sema Canada looks forward to continuing to · A history of pulmonary embowork with governments across Canada lism to ensure that all PH patients have ac· Connective tissue diseases such cess to the best quality of care," said as scleroderma (also known as Darren Bell, president, PHA Canada. CREST) Innovative new therapies that are · Infection with HIV, the AIDS viunder investigation in clinical trials rus and may soon be available to patients. · Severe liver disease, such as cirThey include a new generation of oral rhosis and inhaled drugs that are easier to · Use of certain medications, such take and more convenient for patients. as appetite-suppressant medications For more information on pulmofor weight loss (also known as annary hypertension go to www.phacanorexigens) ada.ca or www.livingwithph.ca. 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