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Get ready to raise awareness for heart valve disease on National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, which falls on February 22! This day was created to educate and inform people about the importance of maintaining a healthy heart and recognizing the signs and symptoms of heart valve disease. Did you know that faulty or damaged heart valves can lead to serious complications, but with early detection and proper treatment they can be managed? So let's spread the word and show our support for all those affected by this condition.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1960</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Successful Valve Replacement</div><div class='timeline-text'>In 1960, the first successful heart valve replacement was performed, opening a new era in the treatment of heart valve diseases.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1971</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Introduction of Echocardiography</div><div class='timeline-text'>Echocardiography, a non-invasive test that uses sound waves to produce images of the heart, was introduced in 1971, revolutionizing the diagnosis of heart valve disease.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1980</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Percutaneous Balloon Valvuloplasty</div><div class='timeline-text'>The development of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty in the 1980s provided a nonsurgical treatment option for patients to regulate heart valve function.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1991</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Introduction of Transcatheter Valves</div><div class='timeline-text'>Transcatheter heart valves were first introduced in 1991, offering a less invasive alternative to traditional open-heart surgery.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2014</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Valve-in-Valve Procedures</div><div class='timeline-text'>In 2014, the FDA approved the use of valves essentially implant within failing bioprosthetic valves – a procedure known as a "valve-in-valve."</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2017</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first annual National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day was held on February 22nd, 2017, led by the Alliance for Aging Research, to spread awareness about the risk, detection, and treatment of heart valve disease.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Wear red to show your support</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Show your support for heart valve disease awareness by wearing red on this special day. Encourage your friends and family to do the same and spread the message about heart health.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Share educational resources</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take some time to educate yourself and others about heart valve disease. Share informative articles, videos, and infographics on social media or in your community to raise awareness about this important health issue.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a fundraising event</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Organize a fundraising event, such as a charity walk or run, to support organizations that work towards improving heart valve disease awareness and research. You can also donate the proceeds to a local hospital or clinic that provides treatment for heart valve disease.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Encourage heart-healthy habits</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Use this day as an opportunity to promote heart-healthy habits in your community. Share tips on how to maintain a healthy heart and encourage others to make small changes in their lifestyle for better heart health.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Write to your representatives</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Raise awareness on a larger scale by writing to your local representatives and urging them to support policies that improve heart health and increase access to treatment for heart valve disease.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It raises awareness for a potentially life-threatening condition</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Heart valve disease is a serious and often silent condition that affects millions of people worldwide. National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day brings attention to this condition, educating the public about the symptoms, risk factors, and available treatment options - ultimately leading to early detection and improved outcomes.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It encourages people to take care of their heart health</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The heart is an important organ that keeps our body functioning properly. By raising awareness for heart valve disease, National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day reminds us to take care of our hearts by living a healthy lifestyle and seeking medical help if we experience any concerning symptoms or have risk factors for heart disease.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It provides support and resources for those affected by heart valve disease</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day also serves as a source of support for individuals and families affected by the condition. It offers information, resources, and a sense of community to those navigating the challenges of heart valve disease. By bringing people together, we can spread hope and fight against this common but often overlooked illness.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Heart Valve Disease is Common Among Elderly People</h3><p class='facts-content'>Approximately one in eight people aged 75 and older are estimated to have moderate to severe heart valve disease, emphasizing the need for regular check-ups and early detection.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>There are Different Types of Heart Valve Disease</h3><p class='facts-content'>There's not just one heart valve disease. Conditions include valvular stenosis, valve regurgitation, valve prolapse, and atresia, each affecting how blood flows through the heart.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Heart Valve Disease Can Be Congenital or Acquired</h3><p class='facts-content'>While some people are born with heart valve disease (congenital), others acquire it later in life due to conditions like rheumatic fever, infections, or degenerative diseases.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Not All Heart Valve Diseases Require Surgery</h3><p class='facts-content'>Depending on the severity and type of heart valve disease, various treatment options can be recommended, including medication management, surgical procedures, or close monitoring without intervention.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Artificial Valves Can Be Mechanical or Tissue</h3><p class='facts-content'>When valve replacement surgery is necessary, the new valve can be either mechanical, typically made from metal and plastic, or tissue, sourced from a pig, cow, or human donor. Each type has its own benefits and potential complications.</p></div></div>
National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day is celebrated on February 22 every year. In 2024 National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day will occur on a Thursday.
2023
Feb 22
Wednesday
2024
Feb 22
Thursday
2025
Feb 22
Saturday
2026
Feb 22
Sunday
2027
Feb 22
Monday
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