Life-Threatening Lung Disease Often Undiagnosed Top Physicia
Life-Threatening Lung Disease Often Undiagnosed Top Physician and Patient Discuss Importance of Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Approximately 100,000 people in the United States and 200,000 patients worldwide suffer from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), an incurable, life-threatening disease often misdiagnosed as other pulmonary conditions such as emphysema and asthma. PAH is a debilitating disease characterized changes in the blood vessels in the lungs leading to high pulmonary arterial pressures. Patients with PAH suffer from shortness of breath as the heart struggles to pump against these high pressures. If left untreated, previous estimates suggest that the average patient would not be expected to live more than 2.8 years beyond the time of diagnosis, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Despite the availability of a variety of therapies, PAH is often not diagnosed in a timely manner, largely because classic PAH symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain can be attributed to more common medical conditions.
Dr. Aaron Waxman of Massachusetts General Hospital shares insight on the symptoms of PAH, provides details on the physical impact of this disease and mentions how often the disease is misdiagnosed. He also talks about the new sense of hope as research has progressed and multiple treatment therapies have become available. He will be joined by his patient, Norma Morey. Ten years ago, Norma began experiencing shortness of breath and difficulty walking short distances. Having been a smoker, she was not surprised when her primary care physician began treatment for asthma and emphysema. In 2005, Norma was diagnosed with PAH. She will share the story of her diagnosis with PAH and how she is living with the disease.
Talent/Guests: Aaron Waxman, MD, PhD
Dr. Aaron Waxman is a pulmonary critical care physician at the Massachusetts General Hospital and istant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Waxman’s specialties are in the areas of pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine, and internal medicine. In the effort to uncover the best course of treatment for his patients, Dr. Waxman has been involved in more than 22 clinical trials on the study of pulmonary arterial hypertension. As a recognized expert in the medical field, Dr. Waxman has been interviewed by numerous media outlets including ABC News, WFXT-TV/Boston, WHDH-TV/Boston, The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald.
Duration : 0:0:17
Posted by admin Date: Monday, January 12, 2009
Categories: cure breath
Tags: "Lung, AND, Diagnosis, Discuss, disease, Early, Importance, Life-Threatening, of, Often, Patient, Physician, top, Trea, Undiagnosed