NewHeartValve.com by Edwards Lifesciences is a free online resource aiming at increasing the awareness and understanding of aortic stenosis for patients and their families who may be affected by this common heart disease.
Aortic stenosis (AS) is a disease of the aortic valve, the valve which is responsible for closing off oxygenated blood in the left ventricle and then opens to pump blood to the rest of the body1.
AS is most commonly caused by wear and tear, as well as, birth defects, rheumatic fever, and radiation therapy2. 1 in 8 elderly Australians is diagnosed with aortic stenosis3. The average human heart beats over 100,000 times a day, therefore totalling to roughly 2.5 billion beats for an average 70-year-old person4.
These statistics further signify the frequency of this degenerative process in our elderly community and explains how this disease is considered progressive; getting worse and becoming life-threatening, over time.
Patients who are diagnosed with aortic stenosis are typically measured as mild, moderate or severe, which categorises how damaged their aortic valve is. Click here to learn more about how aortic stenosis progresses.
Commonly, patients with mild and sometimes moderate AS can be ‘asymptomatic’ and not experience symptoms of their AS until the disease has progressed over time to severe when they may begin to experience symptoms.
Therefore, many patients are living with aortic stenosis for many years unnoticed and not presenting with symptoms until it has progressed to a severe diagnosis5.
Initiatives such as NewHeartValve.com are imperative to providing patients and their families with accurate and easily understood information about AS to increase the awareness, diagnosis and treatment of this disease. In addition to information about AS, the website also explains the treatment options, gives tips on talking to your Doctor, and provides free patient resources.
The Patient Resources section of the website includes:
- Free info kits
- Videos
- Treatment animation videos
- Brochures, FAQs, and glossary.
For patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis, NewHeartValve also explores the treatment options available for this condition such as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement, also known as Open Heart Surgery6.
NewHeartValve has animated videos of both TAVI and SAVR treatment options. Specifically, with TAVI, the website provides a complete overview of this particular treatment option, including what to expect before, during and after this procedure.
To learn more about this patient resource for aortic stenosis, visit the website here: NewHeartValve
Disclaimer:
Any educational information accessed online should be discussed with a healthcare professional. Appropriate treatment for individuals is a matter for healthcare professionals to decide in consultation with each individual.