Meet Joy

A railway veteran and social activist, Joy has traveled far but was never just along for the ride. A failing heart valve wasn’t going to get in her way. See why TAVR by Edwards meant her journey was far from over.

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.1-7

Graphic of leaflets, the flaps of the 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.8-10

Aortic stenosis is progressive. It gets worse over time.4,6

If you’re waiting for just the right time to treat your heart valve failure, the time is now. Delaying treatment could be deadly.6,10-12

Symptoms are your body's way of sending warning signs that you may be in danger. Unfortunately, diet and exercise can’t fix a failing heart valve. Take control by asking for a referral to a Heart Valve Team so you can be evaluated. 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 IGNORED

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 risk1


The number 1.6M overlaid on a map of the USA

In the US, up to 1.6
million adults have heart
valve failure6,13,14


Graphic 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 replacement4

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.5,8,9

  • 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

What is TAVR?

If you’re waiting for just the right time to treat your heart valve failure, the time is now. See how TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) can help.6

Get TAVR info
Icon of a heart with a question mark in the middle

Join Heart Valve Strong

Heart valve failure is serious. Having the right tools and resources will help you speak up and take action before things get worse.6,10

Register here
Icon of finger pointing to the inside of a heart
References: 1.Nkomo VT, Gardin JM, Skelton TN, et al. Burden of valvular heart diseases: a population-based study. Lancet. 2006;368(9540):1005-1011. 2.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. 3.U.S. Census Bureau. S0101: AGE AND SEX – Census Bureau Table. Accessed March 8, 2024. https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S0101?q=age&g=010XX00US&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S0101 4.Malaisrie SC, McDonald E, Kruse J, et al. Mortality while waiting for aortic valve replacement. Ann Thorac Surg. 2014;98(5):1564-1571. 5.American Heart Association. Symptoms of heart valve problems. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-valve-problems-and-disease/heart-valve-disease-risks-signs-and-symptoms/symptoms-of-heart-valve-problems 6.Otto CM. Timing of aortic valve surgery. Heart. 2000;84(2):211-218. 7.Otto CM. Mind the gap: missed valve disease diagnosis. Heart. 2018;104(22):1810-1811. 8.Mayo Clinic. Heart valve disease. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-valve-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353727 9.American Heart Association. Aortic stenosis overview. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-valve-problems-and-disease/heart-valve-problems-and-causes/problem-aortic-valve-stenosis 10.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. 11.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Heart valve diseases: treatment. Last updated March 24, 2022. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart-valve-diseases/treatment 12.American Heart Association. Managing aortic stenosis symptoms. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-valve-problems-and-disease/heart-valve-disease-risks-signs-and-symptoms/managing-aortic-stenosis-symptoms 13.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. 14.Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics. Older Americans 2020: key indicators of well-being. https://agingstats.gov/docs/LatestReport/OA20_508_10142020.pdf

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