HopeForPatients With “The Other High Blood Pressure” (NAPSA)—Fifteen-year-old Sara Galligan is a miracle child according to her father, Dennis. At three months old, Sara was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a life-threatening disease caused by high blood pressure in the lungs. “We were told Sara would not live beyondfive years,” says Dennis. But today, Sara is doing what few people who suffer from PAH can do—run and play basketball without losing her breath. Treatments, including Oxygen and more recently a drug, Tracleer’, have helped Sara survive and are enabling her to live the life of a normal teenager. Recently, Sara had a dream come true when she took to the basketball court with the WNBA’s Debbie Black. Debbie is a spokesperson for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, a nonprofit membership organization Symptomsof pulmonaryarterial hypertension include: Shortness of breath Fatigue Coughing Light-headedness—especially when climbing stairs or upon standing up Fainting Edema(swollen ankles andlegs) Chest discomfor-—especially during physical activity @ up a flight of stairs, yet Sara is out there playing basketball,” says Dr. Dunbar Ivy, Sara’s pediatrician and chief of cardiology at The Children’s Hospital in Denver. “While there is no cure, there are treatments for PAH, which have offered hope and a better quality of life for patients like Sara.” Often confused with regular hypertension, PAH is commonly referred to as “The Other High that provides a community of hope, support and education for patients and families affected by PAH. Debbie has met with other patients across the country and has provided her voice to help raise awarenessof the disease. “Over the past year, I’ve met several people whoare living with PAH,” says Debbie Black. “I’m happy to play a part in raising awareness of the disease—and getting to play basketball with a competitor like Sarais a blast.” and emphysema, PAHis often misdiagnosed. Since their meeting, Debbie and Sara have continued to stay in touch with one another—and both are looking forward to their next game of one-on-one. For more information about PAH experience severe breathlessness and are unable to even walk sion Association at 1-866-474-4742, or visit www.phassociation.org. “Many patients suffering with Blood Pressure.” Over 100,000 people in the United States are knownto suffer with this disease, which has no known cause or cure. Because its symptoms mimic other illnesses, such as asthma PAH, call the Pulmonary Hyperten-
