WASHINGTON – This February 22, 125 national and international organizations, and thousands of patient advocates, will come together to raise awareness of the annual Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day (“Valve Disease Day”). Men’s Health Network is proud to be a longtime partner of the Valve Disease Day campaign, an awareness effort established by the Alliance for Aging Research in order to spotlight the importance of detecting and treating valve disease.
Valve disease involves damage to one or more of the heart’s four valves, interrupting blood flow and often causing serious complications, including death. It can exist at birth or develop later in life from wear and tear, treatments for certain cancers, other heart diseases and conditions, and certain bacterial infections that impact the heart. Age is the greatest risk factor—causing 1 in 10 people over the age of 76 to have moderate or severe valve disease.
But not many people know about valve disease. “As many as 11 million Americans have heart valve disease, yet general awareness of the disease is low,” said Lindsay Clarke, Senior Vice President of Health Education and Advocacy at the Alliance for Aging Research. “Our priority is to reach and educate as many people as possible about risks and symptoms, and encourage them to Listen to Their Hearts—paying attention to their symptoms and getting their hearts listened to. Thankfully, our dedicated Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day partners are helping us make a tremendous impact.”
This year’s Valve Disease Day will include a wide range of events and activities led by partners, including social media, newsletters, blogs, media interviews, health fairs, lectures, and more. To learn more, visit www.ValveDiseaseDay.org and www.ValveDiseaseDay.org/events.
Learn more about the Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day activities by following the #ValveDiseaseDay hashtag.
