Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week
Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week 2024 (September 16 – 22, 2024)
- Our hearts are always there for us, working hard, every day, to keep us going. But sometimes our hearts can become unwell. This can happen when we get older, but can affect younger people too.
- Heart Valve Disease is when one or more of the valves in our heart don’t open or close properly. When our valves aren’t working properly our hearts may try to warn us that something’s wrong.
- Breathlessness, dizziness or fatigue are all signs you might have Heart Valve Disease. But some people have no symptoms at all.
- A simple stethoscope check is the first step to detect Heart Valve Disease. So a regular stethoscope check with your doctor is a good idea.
- Heart Valve Disease is common, serious… and treatable. So if you feel like something’s wrong, then listen to your heart!
#ListenToYourHeart #ValveWeek24
Past Campaigns
Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week 2023 (September 11 – 17, 2023)
Associated with ageing, the condition is estimated to affect 13% of the population who are over the age of 75, with the risk of heart disease increases significantly after 65. Common symptoms include breathlessness, fatigue and dizziness, though in some cases there may be no visible symptoms.
Ireland’s ageing population is leading to an increased prevalence of HVD. It is estimated that across Europe the number of people living with HVD will double by 2040 and triple by 2060. HVD has been described as ‘the next cardiac epidemic’.
To mark international Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week, which runs from September 11 – 17, Croí, the Irish heart and stroke charity, is calling on people to ‘Listen to their Hearts’, and reminding those over 65 to ask their GPs for regular stethoscope checks.
If you have any queries or concerns relation to heart valve disease, please don’t hesitate to contact Croí’s free support service, Croí Connects Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:30pm: Call 091-544310 or email healthteam@croi.ie.
For more information on heart valve disease please visit croi.ie/valvedisease
Geartrúd's Story
Past Valve Week 2023 Events
As part of Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week 2023 (September 11-17), Croí hosted four free stethoscope check events in Galway, Mayo, Limerick, and Dublin. Croí listened to over 1,000 hearts over the course of the week.
