Columns

Some may find it odd that, as an engineer, I research pulmonary hypertension. Even before delving into the definition of what it meant to be an engineer, I envisioned gears turning, buildings being built, and constructing airplanes and rockets to be launched into space. But after entering the…

I’ve been married almost four years now. It’s not a long time in the grand aspect of marriage. When I met my husband, Matt, it was a connection I knew would last. When we started dating, I KNEW. I had always heard people say that “when you know, you know,”…

Let’s face it: It’s HARD to eat right. Add pulmonary hypertension on top of that? (Eye roll.) When I was first diagnosed with PH my doctor recommended I remove certain things from my diet. Alcohol. Salt. Sugars. All I kept thinking about was how wine and bacon were my favorite…

Sometimes (okay, probably more often than not) you meet people who don’t understand your illness. They take breathing for granted. They don’t even notice their lungs most of the time. They don’t understand how you struggle some days, gasping, dealing with chest pain, unable to do much. And they certainly…

When people hear engineering, many immediately jump to visions of grandiose buildings, beautiful bridges, or complicated machines. The stereotypical vision of engineers has since changed, as many of us have ventured into the field of science and medical research. Why is this important? As a biomedical engineer, my classes and…

In continuation of my previous column leading to my diagnosis, I had just been told by my physician’s nurse to research pulmonary hypertension. To this day, I still claim that looking up pulmonary hypertension online was one of the worst mistakes I’ve ever made. There was article after article saying how the…

Whether you’re studying pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or another disease, there’s always a sense of joy that comes from seeing potential new therapies finding success in the lab. As someone with a rare disease myself, I comb the literature to see what the next life-changing medication may be. While the…

In late March 2015, I caught a nasty case of bronchitis. It was a doozy, and just seemed to linger. In fact, I seemed to be getting only worse even after three rounds of antibiotics, days spent drinking hot water and honey, and sleeping constantly. My lungs felt as if they…

Let’s talk about fear and feeling scared. That deep fear. The fear that’s in your marrow, bubbling under the surface. It’s always there. It’s been there ever since (insert the worst thing that’s ever happened to you). A death. Losing your job. A chronic illness diagnosis. The moment that happens…

Hello, everyone! My name is Rebecca Lidenberg. I’m a 30-year-old wife, mother to one fur baby, and the newest addition to Pulmonary Hypertension News. I was diagnosed with Idiopathic pulmonary hypertension in June 2015. Before my diagnosis, I never had heard of it, and have spent the past…

As you may have gathered from the title, this column will probably be my last one — although never say never. I’ve really enjoyed my time with Pulmonary Hypertension News, and am sad to leave such a wonderful team. This opportunity helped me discover how much I enjoy…

In continuation from last week’s column, here are my remaining tips to help prepare for the holidays while living with pulmonary hypertension. 4. Watch what you eat The holidays make it difficult to stick to the meal plan you find best for your health and lifestyle. Dietary…