Heart Valve Disease Week – Are You at Risk?
Category: Health and Wellness Issues
Feb 15 – Feb 22 is heart valve disease awareness week.
As many as 11.6 million Americans are estimated to have heart valve disease, and each year around 25,000 people die from the disease. Fortunately, valve disease can usually be successfully treated in patients of all ages.
Getting personal
On a personal note, last March your editor’s heart valve disease became very serious. Although I knew I had a leaking mitral valve, it was always a someday, maybe, kind of problem. Then during some exercise my heart began racing, and went into atrial flutter. Long story short, after some superb medical care I had a mitral valve repair via robot, minimally invasive. Today it is almost as if nothing ever happened. But I was lucky. Please be aware that this problem does affect millions of people. When you get your medical checkups, pay attention to anything pointing to this disease. Follow your doctor’s advice. And if you experience symptoms – get help fast!
Successful treatment depends on understanding risk factors, recognizing symptoms, and getting timely treatment. Unfortunately, three out of four Americans report knowing little to nothing about the disease.
Heart valve disease (valve disease) is a type of heart disease that involves damage to one or more of the heart’s four valves that causes them to not open or close properly and disrupts blood flow. While some types of valve disease are not serious, others can lead to major complications including death.
If a valve doesn’t close completely and allows blood to leak backwards, it’s called regurgitation or insufficiency, and may be referred to as a leaky valve. If a valve doesn’t open fully to allow enough blood to flow through, it’s called stenosis and may also be referred to as a sticky, narrowed, or stiff valve. A valve may also fail to open fully due to an obstruction.
Each of the heart’s four valves can have regurgitation or stenosis, or both—although the aortic and mitral valves are the most likely to be damaged. The most common types of valve disease are mitral regurgitation, mitral stenosis, aortic regurgitation, and aortic stenosis.
Depending on the type of valve disease, the damage can cause the heart to work harder than it should and can restrict blood flow to the rest of the body. Without treatment, this can lead to serious complications including arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, stroke, other heart disease, and even death. These complications can significantly impact quality of life, make everyday activities difficult, and lead to disability and loss of independence.
Here are some of the symptoms (LISTEN):
Lightheaded, faint, or dizzy feelings
Irregular heartbeat, heart flutter, or chest pains
Shortness of breath after light activity or while laying down
Tiredness, even if you’ve had plenty of sleep
Edema (swelling of the ankles and feet)
Not feeling like yourself (missing out on daily activities)
For more information:
Comments on "Heart Valve Disease Week – Are You at Risk?"
Shumidog says:
Mine was diagnosed last spring, a murmur which indicate Aortic valve stenosis. Because of 'comorbidities' I didn't have surgery until late October. All in the time of Covid. Not a great time to have a problem.
Beebs says:
Did you have any other symptoms?
John Brady reply: Not really. I felt like I was slowing down - my exercise routine was harder for me. But the atrial flutter was a complete, and scary surprise. I was supposed to have had annual visits with cardiologist, but because I was feeling good I had missed some. Memo to self: Pay attention.