Pulmonary Hypertension
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WHAT IS PULMONARY HYPERTENSION?
It is a progressive, degenerative disease caused by the narrowing or tightening of the veins and arteries in the lungs. As PH develops, blood flow through the pulmonary arteries is restricted and the right side of the heart becomes enlarged due to the increased strain of pumping blood through the lungs. It is this strain on the heart, and decrease in blood to the left heart chamber and systemic circulation through the lungs, that leads to the most common symptoms of PH such as severe breathlessness, fatigue, weakness, angina and fainting2. Early diagnosis is vital for the treatment and prognosis of PH. As with so many rare diseases, PH is often diagnosed when patients have reached an advanced stage of the disease. It is rare and difficult to diagnose and the most common misdiagnosis is asthma.
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THE LEGACY OF JENNA LOWE
How one child changed the landscape of pulmonary hypertension in SA At the tender age of 17, Jenna Lowe was diagnosed with an extremely rare and life threatening disease called pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH). Bright, beautiful and extraordinarily eloquent, Jenna demonstrated exceptional leadership and courage throughout her three-and-a-half year battle with this debilitating disease. She had a massive social impact and put PH on the map in South Africa. If you are a PH patient today you have access to expertise, knowledge and treatment that were not readily available for Jenna. Her #Getmeto21 campaign highlighted the dire need for more organ donors in SA and increased South African organ donation rates by an astronomical 287% in three months. One terminally ill child was determined to make a difference to the lives of those facing PH. The nation mourned their Lead SA Youth Hero of the Year when Jenna passed away in June 2015 due to complications following a double lung transplant; but her powerful legacy lives on in the form of the Jenna Lowe Trust. The Jenna Lowe Trust acts as a voice and advocate for PH patients and organ donation. Visit www.jennalowe.org to find out more about Jenna and PH.
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THE SYMPTOMS OF PH?
The symptoms for all types of pulmonary hypertension (PH) may be similar, and symptoms are usually more severe as the disease progresses. Common early symptoms include:
- Breathlessness (especially during exercise)
- Chest pain (also called angina pectoris)
- Dizziness
- Fainting (also called syncope)
- Fatigue
- Swelling of the arms, legs, ankles or abdomen (also called oedema)
- Dry cough
- Raynaud’s phenomenon (chalky white or dusky blue fingers that may be painful and can sometimes be provoked by the cold)
The symptoms may be subtle at first and are often attributed to more common conditions such as asthma, general fatigue, or lack of physical fitness. Over time, however, they can become more severe and begin to limit normal activities. As the disease progresses, some patients may experience constant breathlessness and fatigue so that even simple tasks, such as getting dressed and walking short distances, become difficult.
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WHAT CAUSES PH?
The exact cause behind the development of PH is not known. However, research gives us a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms that can cause PH. People of all ages, races and ethnic backgrounds are diagnosed with PH. However, certain risk factors make some people more prone to getting the disease.
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HOW IS PH DIAGNOSED?
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) can be difficult to diagnose in a routine medical exam because the most common symptoms of PH, such as breathlessness, fatigue and dizziness, are associated with many other conditions. If your doctor suspects that you may have PH, they will want to review your medical and family history, perform a physical exam and perform one or more diagnostic tests. Chest X-ray, ECG, lung function tests and echocardiography are helpful but ultimately an angiogram is require to make the final diagnosis.
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TREATMENT OF PH
Not so long ago there were no treatments for PH and prognosis was one to three years. This has recently changed and there are many drugs on the market to help prolong life expectancy and quality of life. The earlier you’re diagnosed, the better your chances are of enjoying a longer life.
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ARE YOU TAKING BREATHLESSNESS SERIOUSLY
Remember to take breathlessness seriously, be sure you know the cause, and are proactive about your health. Many more South Africans live with and die of this debilitating illness than was previously thought, the tragedy is they are not being diagnosed. Visit https://www.relate.org.za/causes/jenna-lowe-trust to purchase RELATE bracelets to honour Jenna’s legacy and support the incredible work of The Jenna Lowe Trust Should you suspect you have Pulmonary Hypertension contact: The PH Clinic reception at Grooteschuur Cape Town on 021-4044360 Email: Helen Williams the Jenna Lowe Trust Nurse at [email protected] or text her on 072 947 8046 Email: Dr Greg Symons at [email protected]
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#GET ME TO 21:
Gabi Lowe’s epic battle to save her daughter’s life. Cape Town, 1 July 2019: In her brilliant memoir, Get Me To 21 Gabi Lowe reveals the incredible journey she embarks on to save Jenna, a bright young girl diagnosed with a life-threatening rare disease. This is the untold true story of a mother’s courageous battle to get her daughter to 21. In this compelling book, Gabi Lowe writes in the introduction, “It’s been three long excruciating years since you died, Jen. I know I have to tell your story, but it is overwhelming. I am immobilised by the enormity of it and cannot seem to start. Help me, Jen. How can I ever do you justice? How can I find the courage to relive it? But how can I not?” Indeed, how could she not? In 2013 Jenna was diagnosed with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. At the time, there was little clinical awareness and medicine available to treat patients in South Africa. Jenna’s complex health issues seemed insurmountable. The need for a bi-lateral lung transplant in a country where only 0.3% of the population are organ donors, intensified. Yet, Gabi’s capacity for sacrifice, hope and the urgency to save her daughter’s life inspired her to achieve what looked like the impossible. Driven by consciousness and compassion, with the help of her seriously ill daughter Jenna, her family and friends, Gabi faced these challenges head on. The book reveals how the Lowe family’s tireless campaigning to raise awareness for Pulmonary Hypertension, organ transplantation and rare diseases in South Africa became a fight, not only for Jenna’s needs, but for all South Africans. We see how Jenna’s ultimate passion to change the world for the better, even in sickness, would create massive social impact in her country. Organ donor registration increased by 238%, through her #GetMeTo21 campaign. Their journey was extraordinary. In Get Me to 21, the reader discovers that vulnerability is not a weakness, it is the quickest path to courage. This is a book written by an ordinary mother. Her challenges, her traumas, her times of weakness and her moments of despair and pain. Gabi’s words laced with humility and wisdom come from having lived and learned. This is the story of Jenna Lowe. Get Me to 21 is on sale from the 1 August 2019 at all top book retailers around the country including Exclusive Books, Bargain Books and PNA. The book is also available online at https://jennalowe.org/product/get-me-to-21-book/ from 01 August and on www.amazon.com
