More people are becoming aware of heart valve disease, and more people living with valve conditions are getting support and information to manage their health. These are just some of the ways Heart Valve Voice Canada — the country’s only national, patient-led heart valve organization — is making a difference. Learn more in our 2023 Impact Report.

The first patient-led global manifesto calling for early detection and diagnosis of cardiovascular disease is available now, and Heart Valve Voice Canada was delighted to contribute!

Heart Valve Voice Canada is excited to share that the following #ListenToYourHeart stethoscope events are scheduled in support of Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day.

Visit an event closest to you and “Listen To Your Heart”

The report Heart Valve Disease: Working together to create a better patient journey commissioned by Heart Valve Voice Canada and written by The Health Policy Partnership provides a comprehensive view of the entire heart valve disease patient journey from first detection to diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment, identifying gaps and their impacts. This report was developed under the guidance of a multidisciplinary advisory council, whose members included people with lived experience and healthcare professionals engaged in heart valve disease in Canada. The patient perspective was the common thread throughout this report.

Question: I have recently been diagnosed with heart valve disease. Do I need to restrict my physical activity?

This global roadmap, to which Heart Valve Voice Canada is a contributor, is designed to support patient organizations and advocates who wish to implement shared decision-making for people facing heart valve disease treatment options.

Question: Following surgery to replace my aortic valve, I often experienced what I can best describe as brain fog and reduced mental sharpness during my recovery. Is this common?

When Kathy Howes experienced fainting, dizziness and racing heartbeats, she faced a frustrating search for answers. Nobody connected those symptoms to her heart valve condition, mitral valve prolapse — until it was almost too late. Now, after valve replacement surgery, Kathy is sharing what she learned along the way, and what she wants people to know about valve disease.

We are pleased to announce Hugh MacPhie as the new Heart Valve Voice Canada Chair. Having joined the board in 2022 Hugh will build on the board’s mission to grow it's reach and impact.

In an exciting new partnership, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, Heart Valve Voice Canada, and MediSystem Pharmacy are teaming up to put a spotlight on heart valve disease and improve early detection for those most at risk.

As we work towards our mission to improve the health and quality of life for people living with heart disease, a key part of our action plan involves finding the right partners to drive our patient advocacy forward. Our Heart Valve Voice Canada Board of Directors is the heartbeat of our organization and we are continually looking for advocates who will help us empower people and save lives. We are honoured whenever someone volunteers their skillset and time to our mission, and we are happy to announce a few new additions to our team.

Packing the right items and being prepared for your hospital stay can remove some of the stress of your upcoming treatment. Anticipating what you will need when you come home can also help you focus on your recovery and support your journey back to an active life.

Heart valve disease patients who live in Saskatchewan and are candidates for a transcatheter mitral valve repair procedure, can now get the procedure done in their home province, avoiding personal out-of-province travel costs, health risks, and accompanying stress.

When Virginia got the call telling her she didn’t have to travel to Toronto for her valve procedure, she couldn’t believe it. Until that moment, Virginia and her daughter were contemplating the worry of a long flight from Saskatchewan, finding a place to stay, and the stress of undergoing a heart-related procedure. But that call changed everything, for the better.

Early screening of heart valve disease saves public health care systems resources, but prevalent ageism delays diagnosis, limits care, and leads to avoidable costs and impacts on people’s lives.

All MPPs and staff at Queen’s Park in Toronto were invited to participate in the #ListenToYourHeart Challenge reception. MPP Rudy Cuzzetto introduced Bill 66, The Heart Valve Disease Awareness Act, proclaiming February 22nd as Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day in Ontario. During the reception, the landmark report, Heart Valve Disease: Working together to improve the patient journey was shared with key decision makers. More than 90 policy makers and staff participated and showed their support.

Focusing on healthy living is important for everyone, but it’s particularly important for someone who has been diagnosed with heart valve disease. Healthy living includes managing key risk factors for your heart health like not smoking, maintaining a healthy blood pressure measurement, exercising, keeping a healthy weight, and managing your blood cholesterol. There is a lot you can do to control these risk factors for your heart health.

Are you interested in sharing your expertise and experience to help advance Heart Valve Voice Canada’s strategic priorities? HVVC is currently seeking individuals to serve on our Board of Directors. We are looking for skilled individuals to support the governance mandate and guide HVVC. Experience and knowledge in finance or law are of specific interest.

As we approach the end of the year, we want to thank all our readers who have supported and engaged with Heart Valve Voice Canada. You have helped us improve awareness of heart valve disease and how we can do better in diagnosing and treating it. Looking ahead we are excited about the new ways that we can serve and advocate for those with heart valve disease. We also want to encourage you to prioritize your health this holiday season. To help you in doing so, we are sharing a few tips for having a happy and healthy holiday season.

From a young age, Shirley enjoyed being active. She square danced, played baseball, volleyball and participated in track and field. While family and work kept her very busy, Shirley lived most of her life with a bicuspid aortic valve. Twice when her failing valve was slowing her down, she was faced with major decisions including navigating different treatment options.