National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day - February 22, 2023
Heart valves are the gatekeepers of life. They open and close to let blood flow in and out of the heart, keeping our bodies healthy. But sometimes, these valves can become damaged or weakened over time. When that happens, they don’t work as well as they should –and that can lead to serious problems. Heart valve diseases are serious conditions that can lead to arrhythmias, heart failure, and even death. In fact, an estimated 600,000 people die each year from cardiovascular disease — making it the number one killer in the United States.
That is why each year, on February 22nd, we observe National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, which takes place during American Heart Month. The day is held to raise awareness about the unique dangers and effects of heart valve disease, improve diagnosis and treatment and save more lives from this condition. Through education and outreach, we can lower the number of persons who forfeit their independence and capacity to engage in their lives due to heart diseases actively — suffer arrhythmias, heart failure, and even death.
Why National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day is Important
Heart valve disease is a silent killer. It causes heart failure, one of the leading causes of death in the US. This day aims to raise awareness, minimize adverse results, improve detection, increase treatment rates, and improve overall health outcomes.
This awareness day also seeks to enlighten patients, carers, and the general public through social media campaigns and media advocacy efforts to help raise awareness of the disease.
Although heart valve disease can be debilitating and fatal, treatment options can save lives, so awareness and education are critical. The campaign partners collaborate to raise awareness of valve disease on this day and year round.
Learning about Heart Disease and its Risk Factors
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally.
- An estimated 17.9 million people died from CVDs in 2019, representing 32% of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 85% were due to heart attack and stroke.
- Over three quarters of CVD deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries.
- Out of the 17 million premature deaths (under the age of 70) due to noncommunicable diseases in 2019, 38% were caused by CVDs.
- Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing behavioural risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol.
- It is important to detect cardiovascular disease as early as possible so that management with counselling and medicines can begin.
What are the Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease?
The most important behavioral risk factors of heart disease and stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol. The effects of behavioral risk factors may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, raised blood lipids, and overweight and obesity. These “intermediate risks factors” can be measured in primary care facilities and indicate an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other complications.
Cessation of tobacco use, reduction of salt in the diet, eating more fruit and vegetables, regular physical activity and avoiding harmful use of alcohol have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Health policies that create conducive environments for making healthy choices affordable and available are essential for motivating people to adopt and sustain healthy behaviors.
There are also a number of underlying determinants of CVDs. These are a reflection of the major forces driving social, economic and cultural change – globalization, urbanization and population aging. Other determinants of CVDs include poverty, stress and hereditary factors.
In addition, drug treatment of hypertension, diabetes and high blood lipids are necessary to reduce cardiovascular risk and prevent heart attacks and strokes among people with these conditions.
What are the Common Symptoms of Cardiovascular Diseases?
Symptoms of heart attacks and strokes
Often, there are no symptoms of the underlying disease of the blood vessels. A heart attack or stroke may be the first sign of underlying disease. Symptoms of a heart attack include:
- pain or discomfort in the center of the chest
- pain or discomfort in the arms, the left shoulder, elbows, jaw, or back.
- in addition, the person may experience difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; nausea or vomiting; light-headedness or faintness; a cold sweat; and turning pale. Women are more likely than men to have shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
The most common symptom of a stroke is sudden weakness of the face, arm, or leg, most often on one side of the body. Other symptoms include sudden onset of:
- numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- difficulty seeing with one or both eyes
- difficulty walking, dizziness and/or loss of balance or coordination
- severe headache with no known cause; and/or
- fainting or unconsciousness.
People experiencing these symptoms should seek medical care immediately.
What is Rheumatic Heart Disease?
Rheumatic heart disease is caused by damage to the heart valves and heart muscle from the inflammation and scarring caused by rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is caused by an abnormal response of the body to infection with streptococcal bacteria, which usually begins as a sore throat or tonsillitis in children.
Rheumatic fever mostly affects children in developing countries, especially where poverty is widespread. Globally, about 2% of deaths from cardiovascular diseases are related to rheumatic heart disease.
Symptoms of rheumatic heart disease
Symptoms of rheumatic heart disease include: shortness of breath, fatigue, irregular heartbeats, chest pain and fainting.
Symptoms of rheumatic fever include: fever, pain and swelling of the joints, nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting.
Why are Cardiovascular Diseases a Development Issue in Low- and Middle-income Countries?
At least three-quarters of the world's deaths from CVDs occur in low- and middle-income countries. People living in low- and middle-income countries often do not have the benefit of primary health care programmes for early detection and treatment of people with risk factors for CVDs. People in low- and middle-income countries who suffer from CVDs and other noncommunicable diseases have less access to effective and equitable health care services which respond to their needs. As a result, for many people in these countries, detection is often late in the course of the disease. People die at a younger age from CVDs and other noncommunicable diseases, often in their most productive years.
The poorest people in low- and middle-income countries are most affected. At the household level, evidence is emerging that CVDs and other noncommunicable diseases contribute to poverty due to catastrophic health spending and high out-of-pocket expenditure. At the macro-economic level, CVDs place a heavy burden on the economies of low- and middle-income countries.
How can the burden of Cardiovascular Diseases be reduced?
The key to cardiovascular disease reduction lies in the inclusion of cardiovascular disease management interventions in universal health coverage packages. However, in a high number of countries, health systems require significant investment and reorientation to manage CVDs effectively.
Evidence from 18 countries has shown that hypertension programmes can be implemented efficiently and cost-effectively at the primary care level, which will ultimately result in reduced coronary heart disease and stroke. Patients with cardiovascular disease should have access to appropriate technology and medication. Basic medicines that should be available include:
- aspirin
- beta-blockers
- angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
- statins.
An acute event such as a heart attack or stroke should be promptly managed. Sometimes, surgical operations are required to treat CVDs. They include:
- coronary artery bypass
- balloon angioplasty (where a small balloon-like device is threaded through an artery to open the blockage)
- valve repair and replacement
- heart transplant
- artificial heart operations
Medical devices are required to treat some CVDs. Such devices include pacemakers, prosthetic valves, and patches for closing holes in the heart.
Observing National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day
The best way to prevent this disease is to get a stethoscope test done every year. It can detect any damage or abnormality in your heart valve and help you get it treated early. Because of the seriousness of heart valve disease and the fact that the symptoms are sometimes difficult to identify, severe or deadly outcomes are likely to occur. This observance reminds us of the real threat this disease poses. Use this holiday to get a regular checkup done and take more care in keeping your heart healthy.
Be a part of the movement by showing support on social media. Post informational snippets and use relevant hashtags to spread valuable information.
Sources:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)
https://www.agingresearch.org/events/national-heart-valve-disease-awareness-day/