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 discussion guide

Today’s the day to

Reach for the heart

Millions of people with heart valve disease go undiagnosed. You can help change that.

Help your patients understand the
symptoms and risk factors

Up to 50% of people with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis may die within 2 years after symptoms begin if left untreated.

Most of your older patients are probably familiar with heart disease, but many have never even heard of heart valve disease (HVD). Because of this, they may confuse their symptoms as just a part of getting older.

In fact, as many as 1 in 2 people over 65 don't even know they have HVD and 3 in 5 HVD patients didn't have or recognize their symptoms and were only diagnosed after a regular check-up or unrelated doctor visit.

If your patients know how
to LISTEN to their heart,
they may recognize the subtle symptoms sooner

Yellow L on blue background with lightheaded icon.

Lightheaded, faint, or dizzy feelings

Yellow I on blue background with heart icon.

Irregular heartbeat, heart flutter, or chest pains

Yellow S on blue background with lungs short of breath icon.

Shortness of breath after light activity or while lying down

Yellow T on blue background with tiredness icon.

Tiredness, even if they've had plenty of sleep

Yellow E on blue background with swollen ankles icon.

Edema

Yellow N on blue background with magnifying glass, not feeling like yourself icon.

Not feeling like themselves (missing out on daily activities)

Two men fixing a truck engine and talking, while one holds the instructions and points to his head, indicating expertise

It’s also important to let your patients know what can put them at risk, like history of heart diseases and conditions, chronic kidney disease, and older age.

Educate patients on the diagnostic process

illustration_appointment

Although you will probably conduct multiple tests with your patients, it’s important they understand that an echocardiogram is the standard diagnostic test and one of the most accurate ways to see if they have heart valve disease.

To help calm any fears they may have, let them know an echocardiogram is:

A simple heart ultrasound

Pain-free

Accurate

Over in as little as 20 minutes

Senior man using tablet device to read heart valve disease guides.

Resources for your patients

We created these guides to help your patients talk about their heart valve disease symptoms and more with you in person or remotely.

Download our discussion guide
Download our telehealth guide

Schedule routine echocardiograms

Let your diagnosed patients know that their heart valve disease can get worse over time, so it's important they have routine echocardiograms and follow-up appointments, especially if they're asymptomatic.

Severity:Mild

Every 3 to 5 years

Severity:Moderate

Every 1 to 2 years

Severity:Severe

Every 6 to 12 months*

*Every 1-2 years if you have mitral stenosis