February 22 is National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, which aims to increase recognition of the specific risks and symptoms of heart valve disease, improve detection and treatment, and ultimately save lives. Recognizing the seriousness of heart valve disease, and the fact that disease symptoms are often difficult to detect or dismissed as a normal part of aging, the Alliance for Aging Research is leading this effort to raise awareness through Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day.
Even though as many as 11 million Americans are affected by heart valve disease, public awareness of the disease is shockingly low. A 2017 survey of more than 2,000 adults found that three out of four Americans know little to nothing about valve disease. The seriousness of the disease, combined with the fact that symptoms are often difficult to detect or dismissed as a normal part of aging, makes this lack of awareness dangerous. While heart valve disease can be disabling and deadly, it can usually be successfully treated in patients of all ages if treated in time, making education and awareness particularly important.
The Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day campaign was started to increase recognition of the specific heart valve disease risks and symptoms, improve detection and treatment, and ultimately save lives, which is why the Alliance chose to have this day in the midst of American Heart Month. On this day and throughout the year, the campaign partners – 100+ non-profits, advocacy organizations, professional societies, foundations, hospitals, and heart centers – join forces to help spread the word about valve disease. While partners educate about heart valve disease awareness throughout the year, a dedicated day allows the Alliance to collaborate and amplify each other’s messages.
The day is recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on its National Health Observances calendar, and by resolutions in the U.S. Congress. To date, the campaign has produced more than a billion impressions and reached more than 166 million through high-impact engagement.
You can take the Listen to Your Heart Challenge, and find out more about Heart Valve Disease Awareness, you can visit their website. To learn more about the Alliance for Aging Research, go to www.agingresearch.org.
—
Photo Credit: New Africa / Shutterstock.com