Alliance for Aging Research Launches Campaign to Educate about Valve Disease in Women

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Aging Research announces the launch of a new comprehensive campaign aimed at educating about valve disease in women, a condition that causes damage to one or more of the heart's four valves. It affects one in 50 women, including one in 10 age 75 and over.

While the condition occurs in both genders, women often tend to have a worse prognosis than men. Research has also shown that females who experience symptoms of valve disease are often misdiagnosed and do not get appropriate treatment as quickly.

"Our campaign was inspired by the need to get more information out there about the dangers of undiagnosed valve disease in women," says Lindsay Clarke, vice president of health programs for the Alliance. "We want to educate on both the symptoms of valve disease and emphasize the importance of seeking treatment as soon as those symptoms occur. With early detection and proper treatment, we can help women avoid the potentially devastating effects of valve disease."

At the center of the Alliance's campaign is a new valve disease workshop kit that is available to community partners and organizations. It provides all of the resources necessary for community leaders to conduct workshops at hospitals, senior centers, churches and other locations. The kit includes a leader's guide, a consumer brochure, quizzes and a slide presentation. The materials can be downloaded for free from the Alliance's valve disease webpage.

In addition to the kit, the page also has the following resources:

• An educational "pocket film" that provides a summary of the disease. (Note: The Alliance offers a variety of these films focused on health-related topics at this link.)
• Patient fact sheets that give the basics of valve disease and tips on how to talk to a health care professional.
• Podcasts that feature interviews with a valve surgery patient, a cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon.
• An online educational quiz that tests knowledge of the condition.

For more information, please visit here or contact Noel Lloyd at [email protected] or 202.370.7852.

About the Alliance for Aging Research

The Alliance for Aging Research is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the pace of scientific discoveries and their application in order to vastly improve the universal human experience of aging and health. Visit http://www.agingresearch.org for more information.

SOURCE Alliance for Aging Research