• Heart valve disease is common, serious, but treatable.

What is heart valve disease?

The heart has four valves that open and close to control blood flow to your body. If one or more of those valves don’t open or close properly, that means you have heart valve disease. It may be something you were born with, or that develops during your life.

Heart valve disease is common and serious, but treatable. Knowing the symptoms to look out for and when you should see a healthcare provider are the best ways to detect and treat possible heart valve disease.

Heart Valve Voice Canada is here to support, educate, and advocate on behalf of Canadians living with heart valve disease.

Patient stories

If you have been diagnosed with heart valve disease, you are not alone. Learn from people who share their experience — and what they learned about diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

Featured
‘I’m part of a club that nobody wants to join.’
Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Infective Endocarditis
Surgical Replacement (Mechanical)
‘I’m part of a club that nobody wants to join.’
Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Infective Endocarditis
Surgical Replacement (Mechanical)

Dean Snow has had open-heart surgery three times. As a psychologist who works with heart patients, he has unique insight into the ways valve disease can impact mental and emotional health.

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Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Infective Endocarditis
Surgical Replacement (Mechanical)
“I wish I had known sooner.”
Mitral Regurgitation
Surgical Replacement (Mechanical)
“I wish I had known sooner.”
Mitral Regurgitation
Surgical Replacement (Mechanical)

Dianne Galbraith finally learned the cause of her crushing fatigue: a leaking mitral valve that needed urgent surgery. Even more surprising was the likely cause: a childhood bout of rheumatic fever that might have damaged her heart.

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Mitral Regurgitation
Surgical Replacement (Mechanical)
Getting treatment close to home
Mitral Regurgitation
Transcatheter Repair
Getting treatment close to home
Mitral Regurgitation
Transcatheter Repair

Virginia Nordlee was thrilled to learn she would not have to leave Saskatchewan to receive a minimally invasive mitral valve repair.

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Mitral Regurgitation
Transcatheter Repair

Working together to create a better patient journey

From awareness and detection through diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and life after surgery, Canadians living with heart valve disease will have different needs but we all follow the same journey. Knowing your options and having up-to-date information is the best way to improve the outcome of living with heart valve disease or supporting someone through their journey. Together, Heart Valve Voice Canada’s Patient Journey can lead you through this important process.

Latest news

Featured
The New England Journal of Medicine featured this research study in October 2024
The New England Journal of Medicine featured this research study in October 2024

The study found that patients with severe asymptomatic aortic stenosis fared better with early intervention by minimally invasive surgery than with clinical monitoring every six to 12 months. Monitoring is the current practice.

The research study was co-authored by Dr. Philippe Pibarot, a Heart Valve Voice Canada board member.

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Cardiovascular Disease Conference opens with powerful patient story by Heart Valve Voice Canada board member
Cardiovascular Disease Conference opens with powerful patient story by Heart Valve Voice Canada board member

Len Crispino shared his patient story about living with multiple heart conditions, kidney failure and cancer in a video to open the November 2024 Unite Summit.

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Screening program raises awareness of valve disease
Screening program raises awareness of valve disease

Heart valve disease is common and treatable, yet too few people know they could be at risk. Now, mobile clinics from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute are screening people in the Ottawa area for valve disease and other heart conditions. The clinics target individuals 65 years or older focusing on underserved communities, including rural residents and Indigenous people, and aim to get patients to the care they need faster.

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