While more than 11 million Americans are living with heart valve disease at this very moment, leading to 25,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, an estimated 3 in 4 people have little to no knowledge of what it is.
Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of the heart’s four valves disrupts blood flow.
With age being the most common factor that increases risk, other cardiovascular diseases and conditions — such as a previous heart attack, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and valve damage from some types of cancer treatments — can also increase risk. In addition, people in communities of color tend to develop heart valve disease at a younger age and need to get screened earlier.
Symptoms of heart valve disease can include things we might experience from time to time: lightheadedness; an irregular, fluttering heart or chest pain; tiredness; edema; or feeling “off” in general. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a medical professional for a routine stethoscope check. A stethoscope can detect irregular faint sounds or “murmurs,” which signal to your doctor that more tests need to be ordered.
This American Heart Month, schedule an appointment with your health care provider and get a stethoscope check.
Learn more about your risk at valvediseaseday.org and by following #ValveDiseaseDay on social media.
Katrin Werner-Perez
Director of health education and advocacy, Alliance for Aging Research
Washington, D.C.
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