NewsletterMichelle, our
Here’s some great advice for staying active and healthy through the holidays and into the new year
White chicken chili
Letairis is a prescription medicine used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), which is high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs.
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Welcome to my personal video diary. In each issue, I’ll share what’s happening with me and some of the ways that I manage life with PAH. I hope you’ll enjoy and check back often to hear more!
Like many PAH patients, Michelle’s journey to an actual confirmed diagnosis took several years. Once that occurred, Michelle’s PAH Specialist suggested she enroll in the AMBITION clinical trial. She did, and now takes a combination of Letairis and tadalafil to treat her PAH.
Michelle first began experiencing unusual symptoms in her late 20s. In 2008, she noticed swelling in the ankles, shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, and extreme fatigue. This began a years-long journey during which Michelle was treated for high blood pressure, anxiety, and allergies. In addition, she believed she needed to lose weight and get into shape and perhaps the symptoms would go away. A trip to the emergency room in 2013 finally led to suspicion of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The diagnosis was confirmed with a right heart catheterization.
Michelle was enrolled into the AMBITION clinical trial. Her PAH Specialist believed she was a good candidate to participate in the trial, which was designed to see if two drugs taken together (Letairis and tadalafil) was better than either drug taken alone. The patients who had not been previously treated for PAH were randomly assigned to take either both Letairis and tadalafil together or Letairis alone or tadalafil alone.
When the trial was complete, physicians learned which drug(s) their patients had taken. Michelle had been taking tadalafil on its own. Her PAH Specialist recommended adding Letairis to tadalafil so that Michelle could begin the combination of both drugs studied in the AMBITION trial. Michelle has been on Letairis and tadalafil combination therapy since early 2016.
Learn more about combination therapy with Letairis and tadalafil and the AMBITION trial.
As the seasons change and you begin planning for a new year, it’s the perfect time to establish some good habits that will see you through the winter months. Remember, before you take care of anything else, you must first take care of yourself. Staying active is important to both your mental and physical health, and a great way to help manage holiday stress.
Grab your sneakers and get moving with these tips. Be sure to check with your PAH Specialist before starting or changing your exercise routine.
Always check with your PAH Specialist before starting any exercise program.
A lot of people make changes in insurance at this time of year. We’d like to know your plans.
Be sure to check the next issue of the
Have questions about insurance coverage for Letairis? We’re here to help. Call your LEAP Case Specialist at 1-866-664-5327.
In our last issue, we asked about some of your favorite summer foods. Whether it’s corn on the cob, homegrown tomatoes, or ice cream, it’s clear we all enjoy summer’s bounty. Thanks for sharing your favorites with us!
4 Servings
Who doesn’t love a hearty bowl of chili? Unfortunately, unless you choose low-sodium, chili made with canned beans can be loaded with sodium. PAH Specialists recommend that people with PAH limit sodium. Try this delicious spin on the old classic. For more information on PAH and sodium, visit http://www.phassociation.org/SaltAndSodium.
Remove visible fat from chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces. Spray large pot with cooking spray. Add chicken, onion, garlic, chili powder (optional), and jalapeño (optional), cooking over medium-heat until chicken is no longer pink (about 7 minutes).
Lightly mash the drained, rinsed beans with a fork.
Add all remaining ingredients to chicken mixture and simmer on high for 10 minutes.
Spoon chili into bowls and top with chopped fresh cilantro and/or dollop of sour cream (optional).
344 calories per serving
0.5 g saturated fat per serving
174 mg sodium per serving
*Recipe copyright ©2016 American Heart Association. This recipe is brought to you by the American Heart Association’s Simple Cooking with Heart® Program. For more simple, quick, and affordable recipes, visit heart.org/simplecooking.
©2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. LETC0301 11/17
Letairis and the Letairis logo, Gilead and the Gilead logo, More to My Story and the More to My Story logo, are registered trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Other brands noted herein are the property of their respective owners.
Letairis can improve exercise ability and help slow the worsening of your PAH. Get more details about Letairis.
The LEAP Patient Support Program is available to provide financial and reimbursement support to Letairis patients. Learn more.
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