Heart Valve Disease is an Overlooked, Often Silent Killer
During this American Heart Month, for the sixth year in a row, more than a hundred medical groups are trying to raise awareness about Heart Valve Disease.
Dozens of medical groups are trying to get out the word about what can be a silent killer, which involves damage to one or more of the heart’s valves. Surveys show 3 out of 4 of us know little to nothing about H.V.D.
KXL’s Annette Newell asked Sue Peschin, President of the Alliance for Aging Research: “We know about heart disease, but this specific type of heart valve disease, why is that important?”
“Usually when people think about heart disease, they think about heart attacks, or congestive heart failure. But heart valve disease impacts as many as 11 million Americans. About 25 thousand people die from it each year.”
In many cases there are NO symptoms. But to help people remember symptoms that DO show up: they’re using the letters in the word “listen.” “L stands for light-headedness, I is irregular heartbeat, S is shortness of breath, T is tiredness, E is edema, which is swelling that can build up in your ankles or feet, N is just not feeling good,” said Peschin.
And they say, make sure your doctor listens to your heart during checkups.
Common risk factors are age, having a previous heart attack, or an enlarged heart, high blood pressure and diabetes. There are no medications to cure it. The only option is replacing the heart valve surgically.
