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Diet and Food

Here is an overview of the site:

Coping

An often overlooked yet important concern is the emotional well-being of chronically ill patients, caregivers and friends. PHCentral addresses this issue by providing our visitors with support resources on the site, on the Internet and in their own community. We also try to connect people online through email lists, diaries, message boards and chat sessions.

Our Support System Includes:

  • Support Group Listings

    List or find a PH support group near you.

  • Patient / Caregiver Diaries

    Journals written by PH patients and caregivers who wish to share their lives with others

  • PH Friends Photo Album

    This page is filled with old and new PH friends.  We’ll be happy to add your photo to our album. 

  • Tips & Tricks

    Information and tips for making your life a little easier; a place to share practical and useful tips with others.

  • Tidbits

    Things you should know but probably don't.

  • Features

    Articles on many subjects written expressly for PHCentral.

  • Travel

    Travel tips and information for patients on supplemental oxygen.

  • Memorials

    Photos and stories of friends we’ve lost.

  • Creative Corner

    A showcase of arts and crafts by PH friends.

  • Pet Corner

    Patients share their stories and photos of the furry, feathered and scaly pets that enrich their lives and give them comfort.

  • Books

    Publications we think you might want to check out organized in three groupings: coping, medical and financial. If you would like to add a good read to our list, please write to us.

  • Links

    Here you will find links to other websites and organizations we think you might find useful. If you find a site you think would be a good addition to PHCentral, drop us a line.

Medical

PHCentral's medical section is provided to explain the basics about pulmonary hypertension, the diagnostic process and available treatments. . Although we do try to keep current, the information you find here may be incomplete.  We strongly urge site visitors seeking the latest medical advice and treatment options for PH and any of the diseases associated with PH to gather information from a variety of reputable sources.

Financial

  • Insurance Matters (formerly under Action Central)

    We have compiled a list of useful resources you will want to investigate if you have questions about private or government medical insurance coverage. We cover health insurance basics as well as U.S. government sponsored health insurance plans. You will also find a number of articles written by our resident guru Alan Harder on the social security / disability system and several others written expressly for PHCentral.

  • Assistance Programs (formerly called Financial Topics under Action Central)

    Discussions and help navigating the disability system in the U.S.  Other resources to help those in need of financial assistance.

  • Books
  • Links

News – Current and Archives

Our newsroom is open Monday through Friday, rain or shine to bring you the latest in PH news and other health matters of interest to you.  You will also find relevant news items at the bottom of medical, action and financial pages.

Connect

One of the hardest things about living with chronic illness in general and Pulmonary Hypertension in particular, is the isolation. You will find many ways to meet and share with others here including:

  • Message Board

    Sign up for our private ListServe email forum moderated by a team of dedicated PHC volunteers to become part of a vibrant, online community..

  • Chat

    On any day or evening of the week, you just might find someone in chat looking for a kindred spirit. The door is always open. A chat schedule is available and will be announced on PHFriends and the public message board so you’ll want to check there too.

  • Contact Us

    We are a small, grass-roots organization and we do respond to emails promptly. Tell us what you think – what works and what doesn’t. Please share with us what you like about the site and ways to improve it. This site is for you.

Action

There are things you can do to help yourself, your community and the furthering of PH research. This section contains:

  • Intro to section

    Learn why you benefit by becoming involved.

  • Legislation You Should Know About

    From time to time, we bring to your attention a bill that is before Congress or the Senate and ask you to write to your Representatives or Senators to take a position.

  • Social Security & Disability

    If you’re trying to decide how to proceed with social security and/or disability, you’ll find a wealth of information here.

  • Patient Advocacy

    Learn why it’s important to choose a PH specialist for your care and how to get the most out of your doctor visits.

  • Contact the Action Desk

    You’ll find FAQs here on social security / disability issues and email links to our experts for personal attention.

  • Volunteer
  • Contribute

Links

You will find links to many other online resources on the following topics:

Cooking at Home

Do not add salt to vegetable water during cooking. Add some fresh squeezed lemon juice to green beans, spinach, zucchini and most other greens. It is delicious and healthy.

Submitted by -- Cheryl Switzer

Substitute herbs and spices for salt. Garlic, onions and many other spices can jazz up your dishes.

Submitted by -- Cheryl Switzer

I am newly diagnosed with PH and very low on energy and stamina.This has been a problem as far as meals for me and my husband. We tried TV dinners- YUCK and too much sodium, etc. So I've been doing freezer cooking and it is great! A couple of half-day cooking days with my daughter-in-law and I have good home-made dinners in my freezer. What a relief! There are a number of sites on OAMC (once a month cooking), plus books. This has made life so much easier for us.

Submitted by -- Margaret McLemore
Editor's Note:

Once a month cooking is a great way to save money and is great for busy as well as tired cooks. cooking with friends is fun! http://busycooks.about.com/cs/oamc/ is a great website or check your favorite search engine for "once a month cooking".

I have cut back my time in the kitchen by these few handy tricks. I use a lot of tin foil (I know it's not enviromentally great) but it sure cuts down on the pan scrubbing. When I am preparing food for the oven, I line the pan with tin foil first then spray it with Pam. I am careful to not cut into the foil and after the food is cooked, I throw out the tin foil and no mess. The pan is clean and can be put back into the cupboard.

Submitted by -- Unknown

I have always liked cooking with sauces, which used to be homemade but now I use a lot of salad dressing to spruce up the favor of any meat. My favorites are Dried Tomatoe and Spices salad dressing poured over a pan of skinless chicken breasts. Cover with tin foil, cook at 350F until done. Use the sauce as a spicy gravy over mashed potates. I also like Peppercorn Ranch done over beef or pork as well.

Submitted by -- Karen Harder

Eating at Home

Take advantage of the good days. Make a big pot of soup, stew, casserole or sauce. Freeze some of it for those days when you just cannot manage much in the kitchen.

Submitted by -- Cheryl Switzer
Editor's Note:

Since I started working, I've enlisted the help of my kids and we cook 5 or 6 meals at a time. THey are stored in the freezer (the food not the kids) until they are needed. Remember to label your packages, it's hard to tell what it is you are thawing while frozen!

Stay away from canned foods unless they say "no salt added". Most canned foods are loaded with salt. Hint - If you're using canned tomato sauce to make a pasta sauce, don't add any extra salt. You don't need it.

Submitted by -- Cheryl Switzer

Remove the salt shaker from the table or shake it out in the palm of your hand so you can see what you are adding and have a chance to adjust the quantity.

Submitted by -- Cheryl Switzer

In response to changing health needs, you can now buy unsalted corn chips and baked low salt potato chips. If you're going to dip your corn chip into some salsa anyway, it really does not have to be a salted chip. Also, you can make your own tasty corn chips by lightly spraying some tortillas with a tiny bit of oil, then baking them on a cookie sheet. They come out crunchy and delicious with absolutely no added salt.

Submitted by -- Cheryl Switzer

Snack foods are loaded with salt. Be careful.

Submitted by -- Cheryl Switzer
Editor's Note:

Learn to read labels!! you can find salt free or reduced salt snacks at your local mega mart but it can be loaded with other unwanted additives.

Eating Out

If the portions are large, ask for a take-out box when you place your order with the waitperson. When your food arrives, place a portion of the meal in your take-out container and set it aside. If you wait, you may eat more than you should.

Submitted by -- Cheryl Switzer

If you are eating with a good friend who may be watching calories too, share one salad and one entree. This is a good way to get variety and exercise portion control.

Submitted by -- Cheryl Switzer

The better restaurants - the ones where they cook from scratch - can accommodate requests for a low salt / low fat version of their dishes. If you're going to a diner or chair restaurant and you're worried about salt intake, you may be forced to stick with a salad. But don't be afraid to ask. If enough people make the same requests, they may begin to offer healthier choices.

Submitted by -- Cheryl Switzer

 

This site has been constructed by your friends and neighbors in the PH community. All material on this website – unless otherwise noted – has been written by members of our volunteer staff and is copyright protected. The material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, financial, theological or legal advice. The material does not necessarily reflect the opinions of PH Central, Inc, and is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up-to-date. This information is not intended to substitute for obtaining medical advice from a doctor, legal advice from an attorney, or financial advice from a financial planner. No person should act or rely on any information on this site, or linked to this site, without seeking the advice of the appropriate profession to which the information applies.