SCREENING SAVES LIVES
When your doctor listens to your heart, they could be hearing an important message.
THE ONLY WAY TO FIND HEART VALVE DISEASE IS TO SCREEN FOR IT
IF YOU ARE 65 OR OLDER, YOU NEED TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR THESE 3 QUESTIONS:
Can you listen to my heart for
During a physical exam, ask your doctor to use a stethoscope to listen to your heart and check for any abnormal sounds that may indicate aortic stenosis.
What are my risks for heart valve disease?
Understanding the causes of heart valve disease and knowing if you're at risk are important.
Risks associated with heart valve disease include:
- 65+ in age
- Family history of valve disease
- Prior infections
- Prior heart attack
- Radiation to the chest
Will you order an echocardiogram?
If you have any of the risks associated with heart valve disease, or your doctor heard a heart murmur, you need to ask for an echocardiogram, which is a tool that tests for heart valve disease.
Starting at age 65, heart valve screenings should be as routine as getting colonoscopies starting in your mid-40s.
LET'S MAKE IT A THING!
SO WHAT EXACTLY DOES A ROUTINE SCREENING LOOK LIKE?
Getting screened for heart valve disease starts with a stethoscope or an echocardiogram. You and your doctor will need to decide how often your screenings take place.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH HEART VALVE DISEASE GET AN ECHOCARDIOGRAM?
If you’ve already been diagnosed, it’s still important to get regular echocardiograms since heart valve disease is progressive, meaning it gets worse over time.
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