A simple conversation can save a life
Monday 1st February 2021
We need to talk about heart valve disease. In 2021 Heart Valve Voice has pledged to start 100,000 conversations about the signs and symptoms of heart valve disease, because the more we talk about the condition, the more lives we save.
Heart valve disease is a common, serious, but treatable condition, affecting over 1.5 million people in the UK. However, despite its prevalence, awareness of the condition remains low, with many people unaware of this treatable disease's signs and symptoms.
So we ask all of our supporters to join our conversation, and talk with a family member, friend, neighbour, colleague or any person you meet in your day. A simple conversation can save a life.
So today, take one minute to talk to someone about heart valve disease, and ask them these three simple questions:
- Have you felt breathless during physical activity recently?
- Have you had any dizzy spells carrying out everyday tasks?
- Have you felt more fatigued recently?
If they answer yes to any of these questions, tell them to call their GP and ask for a simple stethoscope check - the first but most important step to timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Awareness of the signs and symptoms is crucial to early detection and saving lives. With many patients first having their symptoms recognised by a loved one, we must talk to about one another's health and when we see breathlessness, dizziness or fatigue, remember to think heart valve disease.
So, once you’ve had your conversation, challenge someone else to have theirs. Because the more we talk about heart valve disease, the more lives we save. Join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn using the hashtag #TalkValveDisease.
By talking to each other about the signs and symptoms of heart valve disease, we can improve detection, diagnosis and treatment of this common condition, and save lives.
Heart Valve Voice CEO Wil Woan said "We need to start a national conversation about heart valve disease, and we're empowering our supporters to do just that. Heart valve disease affects over 1.5 million people in the UK. That number is set to increase over the coming years, so it is crucial that we all thinking critically about our loved one's health, and if we see signs of breathless, dizziness or fatigue we think heart valve disease. One simple conversation today can save a life."