2023-09-11 04:02:21
Common in people aged 60 and older, heart valve disease is serious, but completely treatable. In fact, a simple auscultation with a stethoscope is enough to detect it and save lives. Here’s what you need to know to protect your health and that of the people you care regarding.
Heart valve disease encompasses all abnormalities or dysfunctions affecting one or more of the four valves of the heart (aortic, mitral, tricuspid and pulmonary). These, which act as “valves” to ensure optimal flow of blood between the heart chambers, may then not open and close properly, which can hinder blood circulation and lead to heart failure. or other symptoms.
Valvulopathy can be caused by a hereditary disease, trauma, infection, or by advancing age. However, due to the aging of the population, this type of condition is constantly increasing. It now affects more than a million Canadians, and resulting hospitalizations have increased significantly in recent years. The scientific community also agrees that if the population is not made aware of the importance of detection and treatment, the incidence of heart valve disease might give rise to a real “cardiovascular epidemic”.
Signs that may go unnoticed
Symptoms of diseases affecting the heart valves may include shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness or lightheadedness, coughing, and chest tightness or pain. Irregular heartbeats may also occur. However, these signs, which can be mild or even imperceptible, are often associated with the normal process of aging, which explains why many people do not report them to their doctor or nurse practitioner.
The recommendation: consult without delay if one or more of the symptoms appear in order to undergo cardiac auscultation. As a preventative measure, people aged 60 and over, even in the absence of symptoms, should request this screening test, which is not yet systematic, during their annual examination.
The right treatment at the right time
If a problem is detected, patients should have rapid access to an echocardiogram to confirm the diagnosis, ideally within two weeks if they have symptoms, and within six weeks if they are asymptomatic. Subsequently, the patients concerned should be taken care of by a multidisciplinary team, which will put in place an appropriate treatment plan.
Several treatments are currently available to treat heart valve disease. In many patients, replacement surgery, or heart valve repair, is recommended. Depending on the extent of the disease, this procedure can be performed with a less invasive approach by making smaller incisions or using surgical robots. Minimally invasive procedures are also offered to older or more vulnerable people; the affected valves can then be replaced or repaired using prosthetic valves, which are implanted by catheter through the arteries or veins in the leg.
Nowadays, patients can benefit from effective and innovative treatments that slow the progression of the disease and increase their quality and length of life.
The success rate of these procedures is particularly high, since prosthetic valves work effectively, even following ten years, in most patients. Note that more conservative treatments, such as taking medication, can also be considered for people who cannot undergo surgical intervention. In all cases, patients must be carefully monitored over the long term.
Remember that undetected, untreated or delayed valvular heart disease can lead to a significant loss of quality of life in patients, as well as preventable deaths. However, the disease and the risks associated with it are not sufficiently known to the general public. This is why awareness can save lives. Talk to your loved ones regarding it!
For information : unevoixauxmaladiesvalvulaires.ca
Our mission is to educate and advocate for early detection and diagnosis, as well as innovations in treatments, so that Canadians with heart valve disease receive the best possible care throughout their journey.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty in collaboration with the advertiser. The editorial team of Duty had no role in the production of this content.
To learn more regarding A voice for valvular diseases
1694406779
#Heart #valve #disease #listen #heart
