Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Awareness Month

Every November, Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Awareness Month is an opportunity to shine a light on this condition and how it affects people living with scleroderma.

Focusing on Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), a kind of PH

There are different forms of PH that can affect people living with scleroderma, but Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is the only type directly caused by this disease. It can be one of the most life-threatening complications of scleroderma, affecting 8% to 12% of people with the disease. Scleroderma can cause scar tissue in the lungs and thickening in the walls of the blood vessels that carry blood to and from the heart and lungs, and when blood is less able to flow smoothly, it can lead to PAH, especially when diagnosis is delayed.

Learn More about PAH

Partnering to Share Stories of Living with Scleroderma and PAH

Raising awareness starts with listening to the voices of this community. That’s why we partnered with Project Scleroderma to produce a series of three short PSAs featuring scleroderma patients living with PAH: Nola, Dee and Andrew.

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Awareness Month — Nola’s Story

Hear Nola share her experience with scleroderma and pulmonary arterial hypertension and learn why awareness, monitoring, and early diagnosis matter.

Andrew’s Story

Hear Andrew share his journey with scleroderma and pulmonary arterial hypertension—and why raising awareness can help people recognize important signs sooner.

Dee’s Journey with Scleroderma and PAH

Hear Dee share her experience living with scleroderma and pulmonary arterial hypertension—and why awareness and early detection matter.

Get Involved for PH Awareness Month

Every November, the PH community comes together to raise awareness of this serious complication of scleroderma. Learn more below about how you can be part of the next one.

Attend Online Events

Throughout PH Awareness Month each November, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association also hosts a variety of programming for the PH community, including advocacy webinars, condition-specific awareness days and virtual support groups. Visit PHA's events calendar closer to November for the full schedule.

Learn More

Share Your Story

Have you faced PAH alongside your scleroderma diagnosis? Telling your story could help someone else spot the warning signs sooner and know they're not alone. Reach out if you'd like to share your experience on our blog or social media.

Hear From Others in the Community

Discover stories from patients and families facing PH, from symptoms they didn’t think twice about at first to what it really takes to manage the condition day to day.

Raise Awareness

November 2, 2026

November is PH Awareness Month—Learn Why Early Screening Matters

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is one type of pulmonary hypertension (PH)—a general term for high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. PH can have several causes, and doctors group it into types based on what’s causing it. PAH is the type of PH most closely linked to scleroderma...

Raise Awareness

November 26, 2025

Jackie’s Story

"A year after I was diagnosed with scleroderma, I started to get very winded walking very short distances," Jackie L. remembers. "After testing, I received a diagnosis of interstitial lung disease and secondary pulmonary hypertension."Jackie first noticed changes in early 2011 when she began waking up with her hands completely...

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