{"id":4072,"date":"2019-10-29t15:10:38","date_gmt":"2019-10-29t15:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.aselpijama.com\/?p=4072"},"modified":"2020-05-07t12:01:15","modified_gmt":"2020-05-07t11:01:15","slug":"research-reveals-emotional-impact-of-rare-lung-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.aselpijama.com\/research-reveals-emotional-impact-of-rare-lung-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"ph week highlights emotional impact of pulmonary hypertension"},"content":{"rendered":"
press release: people living with the rare lung disease pulmonary hypertension experience high levels of isolation and anxiety and lowered self-confidence, according to new research. <\/p>
a survey by the beplay.asp (pha uk)\nshows 92 per cent of those with the life-limiting condition feel their\nemotional wellbeing has been affected. <\/p>
the research released for pulmonary hypertension awareness week (4-10 november) shows 53 per cent have experienced or been diagnosed with anxiety or depression, and 43 per cent feel lonely. <\/p>
over half find socialising difficult and 70 per cent say\nthe condition has lowered their self-confidence. <\/p>
pulmonary hypertension (ph) causes high pressure in the\nblood vessels connecting the heart and lungs. affecting just 7000 people in the\nuk, the disease can put increasing strain on the heart and lead to irreversible\ndamage and heart failure. symptoms include severe breathlessness, fatigue,\nblackouts and swelling around the ankles, arms and stomach. <\/p>
paula hartley, 49, lives in sheffield and was diagnosed\nwith ph in 2017. an intravenous line – which she will have for life – pumps\ndrugs into her body 24 hours a day, and she uses a mobility scooter to get\naround. <\/p>
paula, who used to be a pub landlady, said: \u201ci feel very\ndifferently about myself now. i feel i am not the full person i was before, and\ni feel very lonely. i\u2019ve had counselling and i do sometimes think, why bother?\nuntil you\u2019ve walked in the footsteps of someone with ph, you\u2019re never going to\nknow what it\u2019s like.\u201d <\/p>