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HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Heart valve disease can affect anyone. But people over 65 are at higher risk. In fact, 2.5 million people over the age of 75 have aortic stenosis, one of the most common types of heart valve disease. While its symptoms can be subtle they shouldn’t be brushed off as "getting older." Left untreated, it can progress to severe aortic stenosis, also known as heart valve failure.1-9

Leaflets: flaps of a diseased aortic valve

Aortic stenosis occurs when the flaps (or leaflets) of the aortic valve become stiff due to calcium buildup, preventing them from properly opening and closing.

Aortic stenosis is progressive. It gets worse over time.5,7,10

Playing the waiting game with heart valve failure can lead to irreversible heart damage.5-7,9-11

Symptoms are your body's way of sending warning signs that you may be in danger. But with heart valve failure, by the time symptoms show up, permanent heart damage may already be happening.

Seeing a Heart Valve Team now could mean getting timely treatment—and help prevent further heart damage. Find one here.

Graphic of a normal heart valve

Normal

Graphic of mild aortic stenosis

Mild

Graphic of moderate aortic stenosis

Moderate

Graphic of severe aortic stenosis (heart valve failure)

Severe aortic
stenosis (heart
valve failure)

HEART VALVE FAILURE SHOULDN'T BE IGNORED7

It's understandable to want to wait for just the right time to treat your heart valve, but don't wait. If you have heart valve failure and are experiencing symptoms, the time is now.

Graphic of 65+

People 65 and over are at
the highest risk2


The number 1.6M overlaid on a map of the USA

In the US, up to 1.6
million adults have heart
valve failure7,12,13


Icon representing 1 in 10 people

Without treatment, 1 in 10
people with heart valve
failure may die within 5 weeks
of symptoms starting if they
don't get a recommended
valve replacement5

Headshot of Joy, a real TAVR patient

Heart Valve Failure Spotlight Quiz

True or false? When it comes to heart valve failure, women are often diagnosed later than men.

True False
Polaroid of Joy, a real TAVR patient, enjoying a picnic lunch outdoors with a train in the background

Symptoms of heart valve failure

You may think new or worsening symptoms are just part of aging and not tell your doctor, but that can be dangerous.5-8,10,14,15

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue (low energy)
  • Lightheadedness, feeling dizzy, and/or fainting
  • Difficulty walking short distances
  • Swollen ankles and feet
  • Rapid, fluttering heartbeat

Do any of these describe how you’re feeling? Ask to be seen by a Heart Valve Team right away.

Don't wait to act
50% icon

Symptoms don't tell the whole story6,10,16

Recognizing symptoms is critical. But as many as 50% of patients don't report their symptoms to their doctor.

Ask for an echocardiogram.

Even if you feel just like you did at the time of your diagnosis, there may be damage happening to your heart that can only be seen by an echo.

Start your Informed Decision Guide

This 7-minute questionnaire can help you and your doctor decide the best treatment path for you.

Begin here
Discussion guide icon

What is TAVR?

If you’re waiting for just the right time to treat your heart valve failure, with symptoms, the time is now. See how TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) can help.5

Get TAVR info
Icon of question mark inside a heart
References: 1.Aluru JS, Barsouk A, Saginala K, Rawla P, Barsouk A. Valvular heart disease epidemiology. Med Sci (Basel). 2022;10(2):32. 2.Nkomo VT, Gardin JM, Skelton TN, et al. Burden of valvular heart diseases: a population-based study. Lancet. 2006;368(9540):1005-1011. 3.Osnabrugge RLJ, Mylotte D, Head SJ, et al. Aortic stenosis in the elderly: disease prevalence and number of candidates for transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a meta-analysis and modeling study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;62(11):1002-1012. 4.U.S. Census Bureau. S0101: AGE AND SEX – Census Bureau Table. Accessed October 18, 2024. https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S0101?q=age&g=010XX00US&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S0101 5.Malaisrie SC, McDonald E, Kruse J, et al. Mortality while waiting for aortic valve replacement. Ann Thorac Surg. 2014;98(5):1564-1571. 6.Otto CM, Nishimura RA, Bonow RO, et al. 2020 ACC/AHA guideline for the management of patients with valvular heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2021;143(5):e72-e227. 7.Otto CM. Timing of aortic valve surgery. Heart. 2000;84(2):211-218. 8.Otto CM. Mind the gap: missed valve disease diagnosis. Heart. 2018;104(22):1810-1811. 9.Harris C, Croce B, Cao C. Tissue and mechanical heart valves. Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2015;4(4):399. 10.Mrsic Z, Hopkins SP, Antevil JL, Mullenix PS. Valvular heart disease. Prim Care. 2018;45(1):81-94. 11.Strange G, Stewart S, Playford D, Strom JB. Risk for mortality with increasingly severe aortic stenosis: an international cohort study. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2023;36(1):60-68.e2. 12.Owens DS, Bartz TM, Buzkova P, et al. Cumulative burden of clinically significant aortic stenosis in community-dwelling older adults. Heart. 2021;107:1493-1502. 13.Older Americans: key indicators of well-being. Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics. 2020. 14.Yancy CW, Jessup M, Bozkurt B, et al. 2013 ACCF/AHA guideline for the management of heart failure: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;62(16):e147-e239. 15.Xiao YF. Cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure: from bench to bedside. J Geriatr Cardiol. 2011;8(3):131-132. 16.Généreux P, Stone GW, O'Gara PT, et al. Natural history, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic strategies for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016;67(19):2263-2288.

Patients and/or clinicians quoted on this website have received compensation from Edwards Lifesciences.