PULMONARY HYPERTENSION
On Saturday, May 13th Faircape Health, Tokai, hosted the first African symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension.
Pulmonary Hypertension is a rare and difficult-to-diagnose disease.
By Karen Wienand of HFN Nursing Agency
It all started with the loving Lowe family. Jenna Lowe was a sufferer of the lung disease, Pulmonary Hypertension, and at the age of 16 it took almost 2 years before a definitive diagnosis was made, only to be told there is no cure.
Fortunately, through many years of hard work and the urgency for better treatment, Jenna's mother, Gabi Lowe, established holistic treatment plans for this disease. At the forefront during this period were Drs. Greg Symons, Paul Williams and Greg Calligaro, who, with their team, established a PH Clinic at Groote Schuur Hospital. They have put together a PH registry and a Multi-disciplinary Team to walk patients and their families through the rigors of the disease.
The Multi-disciplinary Team consists of Pulmonologists, Dieticians, Physiotherapists, Psychiatrist and Counsellors for patient and family support.
Calista Greeff is the chairperson of PHASA. More information can be found at www.jennalowetrust.org or www.phsa.org.za.
Click on the website address below for an article that discusses the possible causes and treatments for Pulmonary Hypertension. While this article gives general information of the disease, a proper diagnosis must be carried out by a Pulmonologist.