(Washington D.C., Friday, February 22, 2019) – National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day—recognized every February 22, is a campaign to increase recognition of the specific risks and symptoms of heart valve disease, improve detection and treatment, and ultimately save lives.

As many as 11 million Americans are affected by heart valve disease, and each year, an estimated 25,000 people die from heart valve disease.

A 2016 survey of more than 2,000 adults found that close to 40 percent of people have never heard of heart valve disease, and only one in four know somewhat or a great deal about this serious disease.

Heart valve disease becomes more common with age—one in 10 people ages 75+ are estimated to have moderate to severe valve disease.

Fortunately, heart valve disease can usually be successfully treated with valve repair or replacement in patients of all ages and ethnicities.

National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day is an annual day dedicated to raising awareness about heart valve disease—its risk factors, symptoms, detection, and treatment—in order to reduce the burden of the disease. With education and advocacy, we can reduce the number of people who lose their independence and ability to fully participate in their lives; experience heart attacks, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, and other heart disease; suffer from strokes; and even die from the disease.

Learn more about heart valve disease at ValveDiseaseDay.org.