IF IT'S HEART VALVE DISEASE, YOU NEED TO KNOW
MAKE ROUTINE SCREENINGS PART OF YOUR ROUTINE. THIS INCLUDES LISTENING FOR MURMURS AND GETTING AN ULTRASOUND OF THE HEART.
Get ScreenedListen for a murmur!
HEART VALVE SCREENING IS IMPORTANT
Heart murmurs are distinct whooshing sounds and can be the first sign of heart valve disease.
Ask your doctor at every routine physical exam to listen to your heart using a stethoscope. And, if you are told that you do have a heart murmur, ask for an ultrasound of the heart, called an echocardiogram. They’re a crucial next step in diagnosing heart valve disease.
DON'T MIND ME. JUST GETTING SCREENED.
Get an echocardiogram
If you are 65 or older, ask for an echocardiogram to screen for heart valve disease. An echocardiogram, or echo, uses sound waves to take pictures of the heart. It’s a simple way to detect heart valve disease before it gets worse.
An echo is:
- Pain-free
- Helpful with detection
- Over in as little as 20 minutes
Great news
As long as your echocardiogram is ordered by your doctor and deemed "medically necessary," Medicare Part B will cover the test. Coverage may still involve out-of-pocket costs.
Am I at Risk?
It's not always easy to tell if you or a loved one has heart valve disease. Find out your level of risk.
Take a Risk Assessment