N.S. woman shares her journey ahead of World Pulmonary Hypertension Day
Beth Slaunwhite was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) after years of being misdiagnosed and struggling with shortness of breath.
“I kind of gave up and I kept getting worse, and I thought I will just get in better shape so I started walking the dog,” said Slaunwhite in an interview with CTV Morning Live's Crystal Garrett on Wednesday.
Pulmonary hypertension is a rare, life-threatening condition that affects the lungs and heart. It causes vessels that leave from the heart to the lungs to become thicker, making it harder for blood to flow through them.
“Pulmonary hypertension itself is not rare, she said. “There is about 400,000 Canadians that have PH. However, pulmonary arterial hypertension is rare.”
Slaunwhite said the signs of PH is similar to other diseases.
“It’s shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in the lower legs and feet. Eventually, you do tend to get chest pain, pressure, and inability to do simple tasks like walking up stairs,” she said.
At the age of 56, Slaunwhite was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension after a long journey.
“My doctor did send me to a respirologist early when I started complaining. I said “You know this is ridiculous that I can’t seem to do anything that my siblings can.” I also had toddlers at the time,” she said.
“I went to a respirologist who said none of your test show anything, but maybe it asthma. I had several PFP’s and even looked for asthma and never had asthma,” she adds.
Ahead of World Pulmonary Hypertension Day on Sunday, Slaunwhite said she wants people with pulmonary hypertension to know there are resources out there.
“You are not alone, Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada has a lot of resources for those with unexplained shortness of breath.”
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs
Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
McDavid scores in 2OT to lift Oilers over Stars in West Final opener
Connor McDavid tipped Evan Bouchard's shot from the boards past Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger 32 seconds into the second overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final..
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
What is 'slapped cheek disease' and should parents be concerned?
Despite its rough name, experts say most cases of 'slapped cheek disease' are mild and not a cause for concern.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.
Unknown Newfoundland soldier from the First World War heads back home from France after 100 years
Canadian soldiers and government officials arrived in northeastern France this week for a historic mission: returning an unknown Newfoundland soldier back home.
Calgary Philharmonic takes action following investigation into 'deeply troubling' comments by 2 musicians
The Calgary Philharmonic has confirmed its taking action after controversial online comments made by two members of the orchestra.