Valvular Conditions

If I can stop one heart from breaking I shall not live in vain - Emily Dickinson

Valvular Conditions

image by: Duncan McElroy

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Narrowing the gap on heart valve disease deaths within our reach

“There’s no such thing as being too Southern.”

It’s a Lewis Grizzard quote that truly encompasses him. Born and raised in Georgia, Lewis was a beloved columnist and humorist with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. My wife went to high school with Lewis and millions of readers across the country knew him through his columns. His humor, self-deprecating observations about life and unapologetic reflections on old fashioned values made him a Southern icon.

In 1982, Lewis published a book titled “They Tore Out My Heart and Stomped that Sucker Flat.” Along with love and loss, he also talked openly about his congenital heart defect and preparing for surgery. When doctors told…

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Resources

 Narrowing the gap on heart valve disease deaths within our reach

We often talk about how preventive care and recognizing symptoms of serious conditions saves lives. In the case of heart valve disease, the numbers don’t lie. A 97 percent survival rate following heart valve repair or replacement surgery is amazing, but far too many people still die because their heart valve disease went unrecognized and untreated.

Council on Valvular Heart Disease

The Council is a multidisciplinary forum for the Heart Valve Team. We encourage research, knowledge exchange, teaching and other educational activities related to Valvular Heart Disease.

Heart Valve Choice

A complete understanding of heart valve replacement requires years of study and practice. Therefore, discussion of these topics with your physicians will provide the foundation for therapeutic decisions you or a loved one will soon make.

HeartValveSurgery.com

Welcome to the #1 doctor recommended website for patients created by Adam Pick, a heart valve patient. Get prepared, learn what to expect, avoid stress, and enhance recovery using resources designed for you.

ValveReplacement.org

A heart valve replacement community.

YourHeartValve.com

The heart valve patient's comprehensive resource for information from Edwards LifeSciences.

British Heart Foundation

If one or more of your heart valves becomes damaged or diseased, it can affect the flow of blood through your heart.

Cleveland Clinic

Valvular heart disease occurs when your heart's valves do not work correctly. Valvular heart disease can be caused by valvular stenosis or valvular insufficiency.

HeartPoint

Most cases of valvular heart disease can be detected with a stethoscope. The abnormal blood flow often produces a sound called a heart "murmur". Not all murmurs are abnormal, nor do they necessarily indicate heart disease, but the trained ear can often tell a lot about valvular problems just with this simple device.

MedicineNet

Valve disease can develop before birth (congenital) or can be acquired sometime during one's lifetime. Sometimes the cause of valve disease is unknown.

MedlinePlus

Valve problems can be present at birth or caused by infections, heart attacks, or heart disease or damage. The main sign of heart valve disease is an unusual heartbeat sound called a heart murmur.

Patient

If the narrowing or leakiness is mild, and you have no symptoms, then you usually do not need any regular treatment. If you develop symptoms or complications, various medicines may be advised to ease the symptoms. Surgery to stretch, repair or replace the valve may be needed in some cases. Surgical treatment has greatly improved the outlook for many cases of severe valve disease.

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