Newsletter Edition
Kelly Swanson Speaking In Charlotte - October 8, 2009
October 8, 2009
Come Hear Kelly Swanson And Two Other Comedians Being Featured At A Fundraiser In Charlotte, NC, On October 24th.
"Through Tears Comes Laughter", a casual event for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, October 24, 2009 from 6 - 10:30 pm at the Dale F Halton Theater on the campus of CPCC, Charlotte, NC.
"Through Tears Comes Laughter" donation link: http://www.firstgiving.com/glennjohnson
Some of the night’s entertainers include:
Kelly Swanson – www.kellyswanson.net
Kurt Green is one of the most energetic and innovative comedians to come your way. His slant on life will make you see things that you’ve always thought of, but were afraid to laugh about. He has appeared on BET’s Comicview television for five consecutive years and has performed in Comedy Zone clubs throughout the country.
Michele Balan is a brash, New York Stand-up comedian and was one of the four finalists on NBC’s 2006 “Last Comic Standing.” She has recently appeared on Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed. She recently opened for the Smothers Brothers 50th Anniversary Tour and is headlining all over the country in comedy clubs, cruises, corporate events, JCC’s country clubs and more. She writes for Life & Style magazine, contributor in many books and writes comedy for other well known comedians.
About the disease:
Pulmonary Hypertension is a rare blood vessel disorder of the lung in which the pressure in the pulmonary artery (the blood vessel that leads from the heart to the lungs) rises above normal levels and may become life threatening.Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension include shortness of breath with minimal exertion, fatigue, chest pain, dizzy spells and fainting. When pulmonary hypertension occurs in the absence of a known cause, it is referred to as idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). This term should not be construed to mean that because it has a single name it is a single disease. There are likely many unknown causes of IPAH. IPAH is extremely rare, occurring in about two persons per million population per year. Secondary pulmonary hypertension means the cause is known. A common cause of secondary PH are the breathing disorders emphysema and bronchitis. Other less frequent causes are the inflammatory or collagen vascular diseases such as scleroderma, CREST syndrome or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Congenital heart diseases that cause shunting of extra blood through the lungs like ventricular and atrial septal defects, chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (old blood clots in the pulmonary artery), HIV infection, liver disease and diet drugs like fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine are also causes of pulmonary hypertension.
Pulmonary hypertension is frequently misdiagnosed and has often progressed to late stage by the time it is accurately diagnosed. Pulmonary hypertension has been historically chronic and incurable with a poor survival rate. However, new treatments are available which have significantly improved prognosis
