We recently shared insights from some of the dozens of patients who have heart valve disease. Their valuable advice for others facing a similar diagnosis was so popular, we’ve put more together:  

Understand inherited risk    

If you have a close family member with bicuspid aortic valve, get screened for valve disease.  

Pam, surgical valve replacement (tissue valve) 

Be aware of warning signs  

Everybody's got a little bit of wear and tear on their heart. But if you can't walk up a flight of stairs, go get checked. If you can't walk around the block without getting winded, go get checked. And if you start doing strenuous exercise and you get dizzy, then definitely go get checked.    

Bill, TAVI 

Be persistent, especially if you’re a woman 

I’d like to see more awareness of heart valve symptoms, particularly in women, among front-line healthcare providers. People need to advocate for themselves and ask questions. This is especially true for women. We present differently than men, and I think we tend to get labelled as anxious, especially as we age.  

Kathy ,  surgical valve replacement (tissue valve)

Don’t panic about blood thinners  

I thought being on a blood thinner was going to be the most disruptive thing ever. But now that I take one (since having a mechanical valve implanted), really, there has been absolutely no disruption to my life. If anything, it gives me a sense of responsibility for my own health, which I think is a very good thing to have.  

Cole,  surgical valve replacement (mechanical valve) at 27 

Let others help  

After my surgery, we relied on help from family and friends. There was stuff I could not do. For example, I couldn't open the fridge door without getting pain in my chest. That's the kind of thing you don't even think of. For the first six weeks, especially, you need a lot of support.     

Eleanor, surgical valve replacement (tissue valve)  

Attitude helps  

It’s important to have a positive attitude and surround yourself with people who support you. Once I accepted that I needed valve surgery, I always tried to be positive. I went in there saying, “I'm coming through this. I'm not worried.”  

Rena, surgical valve replacement (tissue valve)