Self-Care and Healthy Living With PAH

[On Screen Text: Self-care and Healthy Living. PAH Initiative - Sponsored by United Therapeutics - Committed to Improving the Lives of Patients.]

[On Screen Text: Lauren PAH Initiative Ambassador]

Self-care is oh so important as a PAH patient.

[On Screen Text: Gwen PAH Initiative Ambassador]

I think you should do what your body will allow you to do.

[On Screen Text: Joanne PAH Initiative Ambassador]

I'll treat myself to an occasional massage and get enough sleep.

It's very important for social interaction as well. So, I like to be together with friends, having dinner, catching a movie.

Live this new normal life to the best of your ability.

I keep myself honest by sharing my goals with my doctor, with my family and friends.

You're going to have days that aren't as good as others. And that time is when it's really important to cut yourself some slack and grant yourself the grace that you need that day.

But that's in everyday life, even if you didn't have this illness, you're going to have down days.

I do my best to be a good PAH patient. I try to be consistent.

Keeping a schedule is also very important because it streamlines a lot of how your day will go.

I write down how I feel every day. I write down my weight. I keep a journal on everything.

Exercise is the one thing that has really moved the needle for me in helping me feel better, and I do it under the guidance of my doctor. I just wish I had taken it up a little bit earlier.

I try to spend as much time as I can outside.

I listen to my nutritionist. We go back and forth over what I should eat and what I shouldn't eat.

Stay active as you can, eat well, maintain a good healthy weight.

We also do a lot of cooking in my house so I can kind of watch the low sodium and cook as fresh as possible.

I think spirituality is a good part of being healthy. I go to church. I get involved in the church community.

It's important to do my best to be there for my fellow patients.

But also, it's equally as important to be taking care of yourself mentally. Check and see, “How are you feeling? Am I burnt out?”

And lift your head up and say, “I can do this.”

Find joy in the smallest things in life.

To stay positive, you do the best that you can.

I have PAH, but PAH does not have me. It's not going to control my life.

[On Screen Text: PAH Initiative - Sponsored by United Therapeutics - Committed to Improving the Lives of Patients. For more resources about PAH, please visit www.PAHInitiative.com]