February is American Heart Month — a time to bring greater awareness to heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

While heart disease can take many forms, heart valve disease (HVD) is one of the lesser known conditions. In fact, three out of four Americans know little to nothing about it.

But HVD affects as many as 11 million Americans. While it can be fatal, innovations in medicine have allowed many with the disease to receive effective, minimally invasive treatment.

But in order to seek treatment, you first have to recognize the signs and symptoms. That’s not always an easy task, especially when many symptoms of HVD, including shortness of breath, dizziness and general fatigue, can easily be mistaken as normal signs of aging. 

Those over 75 years old or anyone with a history of heart failure, diabetes, heart attack or radiation treatment in the chest area for cancer at earlier ages, can be at risk for valve disease. Fortunately, a simple checkup at the doctor, who can listen to your heart, can usually identify a murmur — which is an irregular heartbeat and a telling sign of HVD. 

On Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day this Feb. 22, encourage yourself or a loved one to get their heart checked. It could save a life.

Sue Peschin

president and CEO

Alliance for Aging Research