Heart Valve Disease: Patient Information
As many as 5 million Americans are diagnosed with valve disease each year. Valve diseases involve damage to one or more of the heart's valves and while some types are not serious, others can lead to major complications--including death.
Valve defects can be there at birth or develop from damage later in life. Fortunately, valve disease can usually be successfully treated with valve surgery in patients of all ages. If you have been diagnosed with valve disease, have a heart murmur, or think you may be experiencing symptoms, read the following information to learn about causes, symptoms, surgery, and more--and be sure to talk with your doctor.
VALVE DISEASE RESOURCES
Heart Valve Disease: Patient Information Fact Sheet
This fact sheet includes basics on valve disease--what it is, how you get it, how you know you have it, how it's diagnosed, and how it's treated. It also covers broad treatment options, what to expect after surgery, and a list of helpful resources.
To download a copy, click here.
Talking with Your Doctor About Valve Disease
This quick guide to talking with your doctor about valve disease includes information for patients who think they may have a valve problem, as well as for those who know they have valve disease. This resource can help make these important conversations with your doctor a little bit easier.
To download a copy, click here.
Educational Podcast Series
This podcast series includes informative interviews with a valve surgery patient, a cardiologist, and a cardiac surgeon.
Dr. David P. Faxon is a decorated Cardiologist with Clinical and Diagnostic Specialties serving as Vice Chair of Medicine for Integrated Clinical Services at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Roxbury Crossing, MA. In this podcast, he discusses the diagnosis, management and treatement of valve disease including, types of valve disease, symptoms, treatment options, and what patients should expect from surgery.
Listen to this podcast
To listen to this podcast, click here.
Dr. Vincent Gaudiani is the senior cardiac surgeon at Pacific Coast Cardiac & Vascular Surgeons. In this podcast, he draws from his over 10,000 operations and 40 scientific papers to cover the basics of heart valve surgery including options available to patients in terms of procedures and mechanisms, risks to consider, expectations for surgery, and how to find resources.
To listen to this podcast, click here.
Beverly Simmons is a valve surgery patient and provides details about her personal experiences in this podcast. Topics she discusses include her symptoms and when she decided to see a doctor about them, how she was diagnosed, how her knowledge about the procedure progressed, how she felt after surgery, and resources that she recommends.
To listen to this podcast, click here.
Valve Disease Quiz: How Much Do You Know?
RESOURCES ON AORTIC STENOSIS
To learn more about aortic stenosis, a specific type of valve disease, visit the Aortic Stenosis page.