Long term, your pulmonary hypertension should be able to be managed by you and medical professionals.

Treatment would focus on relieving your symptoms and managing your condition so that it does not increase in severity.

Having regular appointments and check-ups will help you manage and maintain your pulmonary hypertension.

The Lung Foundation Australia has created a fantastic resource about living with pulmonary hypertension

If you are already diagnosed with any Heart Disease or Pulmonary Hypertension, we recommend speaking with your doctor and treatment team to learn more about daily management.

Research suggests that attending a Secondary Prevention Program can decrease the chance of being admitted to the hospital, reduce complications as well as increase survival rates.

Your doctor may have recommended that you take some new medications if you have Pulmonary Hypertension. This could be an overwhelming time for you, especially as you learn all about your new medications as well as any considerations for taking them.

Apart from discussing with your doctor and pharmacist, NPS Medicinewise has some great information on medication management, medication disposal as well as risk factors. They also have some great information about medications for your heart, which can be found here.

It’s not too late to start looking after your heart health, even after a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.

Here are some great and easy everyday strategies you can do to look after your heart health:

• Don’t smoke: Quitting smoking can reduce your risk by 50% in one year. Quitline would be a great way to start your quitting smoking journey.
• Stay active: 30 minutes per day of exercise, such as walking, can reduce your risk by 30% and deliver many positive health benefits. More information about exercise as well as a sample walking session can be found here.
• Get some sleep: Aim for 7-8 hours sleep and try to unplug from your technology one hour before bedtime. The Sleep Health Foundation has many great women’s focused sleep pages for all stages of your life such as your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, new mothers, and menopause.
• Eat healthy: Ensure you watch portion sizes, eat healthy and nourishing foods such as high fibre foods (including oats and legumes), two pieces of fruit and seven serves of vegetables, reduced salt, three servings of fish per week, reduced saturated fats (such as chicken with skin on, baked goods, fried foods) whilst choosing more lean proteins such as tofu and trimmed meats. The Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute has created some handy factsheets to help you choose the right portions, supermarket shopping, healthy snacks, and eating out.
• Relax: Take some time out for yourself, keep connected with friends and family, or try activities such as meditation to help manage your stress levels. Beyond Blue has a great page full of practical stress-relieving tips, and it could be worth trying some meditations from apps such as Smiling Mind, Headspace, and Calm.

Yes, there are support groups for Pulmonary Hypertension!

The Lung Foundation Australia has support groups available:

• https://lungfoundation.com.au/patient-support/?event_category=43
• https://lungfoundation.com.au/exercise-classes/?event_category=126 .