Is my heart telling me something I should know?

Did you know that your chest pain, breathlessness or fatigue, which you might mistake as signs of old age, could be heart-related?

Heart valve diseases such as aortic stenosis are common among the elderly.1,2

The good news is that most of these diseases can be treated.3

The sooner your aortic stenosis is treated, the better your chances of a full recovery.4

Visiting your doctor soon can help you get diagnosed and treated early.

Is my heart telling me something I should know?

Watch how getting an early heart check-up saved Valma’s life

Valma Video

How do I understand what my heart is telling me?

The answer lies in your symptoms.

You might think that your fatigue or shortness of breath is age-related. These symptoms could be caused by heart valve disease. Your doctor can help you find out what it is.

Talk to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.2

Find GP near you
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Feeling faint
Weak or dizzy
Fatigue
Chest pain
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath
Feeling faint
Feeling faint
Weak or dizzy
Weak or dizzy
Fatigue
Fatigue
I need help talking to the doctor about my symptoms

I need help talking to my doctor about my symptoms

Feeling confused and uncertain about discussing your symptoms with your doctor is understandable.

Feeling embarrassed about undergoing a test your doctor might suggest is also normal.

We have listed some questions and discussion points to help you talk to your doctor.

Guide for talking to your doctor
Nervous about getting tested for a heart valve disease?

Nervous about getting tested for a heart valve disease?

Diagnostic tests for heart valve diseases are non-invasive.

How are heart valve diseases diagnosed?

Watch out for symptoms that may indicate aortic stenosis.

Visit your doctor soon.

Learn more

References
1. Rostagno C. Heart valve disease in elderly. World J Cardiol. 2019; 11(2): 71–83.
2. Mayo Clinic. Heart valve disease. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-valve-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353727. Accessed 5 May 2023.
3. The Heart Foundation. Australia. What is heart valve disease. Available at: https://heartfoundation.org.au/bundles/your-heart/heart-valve-disease. Accessed 5 May 2023.
4. Bartoli-Leonard F and Aikawa E. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2020; 7: 602271.