Critical illness cover and Alzheimer’s disease
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- affects 1 in 4 women / 1 in 5 men before retirement
- 94.1% of the critical illness claims are paid
- protect yourself and your family if you get seriously ill
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Heart Valve Disease
A healthy heart has four valves which operate effectively, keeping blood flowing freely in the correct direction. If someone has Heart Valve Disease, one or more of these valves in their heart are faulty, which can disrupt the blood flow into their heart, or throughout their body.
People with this condition have a significantly higher risk of dying from conditions like stroke and heart failure.
Heart Valve Disease affects over 45 million people annually worldwide, and contributes significantly to loss of body functionality, as well as a lower quality and longevity of life.
Causes:
The four valves in the heart are called the mitral, tricuspid, pulmonary and aortic valves. Each of these have flaps that open and close once per heartbeat, keeping the blood flowing in the correct direction. If any of these valves do not open or close as they should, the heart is unable to effectively supply blood to the rest of the body.
There are three main types of Heart Valve Disease:
- Regurgitation is when the valve flaps budge back, and don’t close as they should. As a result, blood can leak backwards into the heart. This is usually caused by a condition called prolapse.
- Stenosis is when the valve flaps become stiff and rigid, sometimes even fusing together. This creates a narrow and opening which restricts healthy blood flow through the heart.
- Atresia is when the valve is not properly formed, and there is a firm sheet of tissue which impedes blood flow between the chambers of the heart.
Some people are born with Heart Valve Disease (this is referred to as congenital). Others may develop the disease from external causes, such as infections or other heart conditions.
Symptoms:
Often, people will go years without displaying any symptoms for Heart Valve Disease. If and when symptoms do eventually occur, they may include irregular heartbeats, reoccurring chest pains, and shortness of breath.
It is also common to experience swelling of ankles and feet, and occasionally of the abdominal region, too.
Dizziness and fatigue are also common symptoms, and some people may even faint from time to time.
When a patient has Heart Valve Disease, a doctor can usually detect a heart murmur when examining the patient’s heartbeat with a stethoscope.
If left untreated, Heart Valve disease can cause numerous, sometimes fatal, complications. These include heart failure, blood clotting, and stroke.
Diagnosis:
After receiving a diagnosis, a cardiologist will decide on the best way to approach treatment. Sometimes, the patient will only need preventative measures and frequent consultations with the doctor.
Some of these measures include eating healthily, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking and other activities which negatively affect heart function. It is also important to exercise regularly. Medications may be given to treat symptoms, and to thin blood so that there is less risk of clotting.
In some cases, patients will need to undergo invasive surgical procedures to repair the heart valves. Surgeons will open the chest, and may separate valve flaps that have fused together, fix holes in a valve, or remove excess tissue. It all depends on the specifics of the case.
If the valve is beyond repair, surgeons will need to replace the valve entirely. They will remove the impaired valve, and replace it with either a mechanical valve, or a valve made from animal or human heart tissue.
Whilst these procedures are usually performed under the conditions of open heart surgery, there are some situations in which care providers may be able to achieve the same results by using a catheter, which is significantly less invasive.
After such surgeries, patients will have frequent consultations with doctors to monitor their recovery. They may be required to medicate with blood thinners – sometimes for the rest of their lives. It is imperative that they make healthy lifestyle choices (like diet and exercise), to encourage speedy recovery.
Statistics
- More than 747000 Canadians suffer from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
In 2020, 15 out of every 100,000 Canadians died of Alzheimer’s Disease
1 in 5 Canadians have experience caring for someone who has Alzheimer’s or other forms of Dementia.
We estimate that by 2030, over 912000 Canadians will be living with Dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease
56% of Canadians are concerned about being affected by Alzheimer’s disease
Conclusion
Heart Valve Disease is a serious condition that requires diligent monitoring by medical professionals. It can have drastic consequences and can even lead to death.
At Canadian Insurance Centre, we can make sure that you receive the best possible care in the case of a heart related condition. Reach out to us now, and together, we can find the insurance plan that is right for you.
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