American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Launches Heart Valve Disease Website

NewMediaWire via WebWire

Dallas, Tx - Many people live their entire lives without ever considering the importance of healthy heart valves.  To better understand and manage unhealthy heart valves, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association has launched its new valvular disease website, developed with funding from a grant by The Edwards Lifesciences Fund.  In August 2012, The Edwards Lifesciences Fund awarded the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association $1.2M to assist in building out a comprehensive site over a four year period.

The website will place the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association as a leader in patient valve disease education and offers consumers a new resource with high-quality information and engaging interactive materials that could help prolong lives.

“There is an extensive need for education on the many different types of valvular diseases, including aortic valve disease, mitral valve prolapse, pulmonary valve disease and even tricuspid valve disease,” stated Robert Bonow, MD, MS, Goldberg Distinguished Professor of Cardiology Director, Center for Cardiovascular Innovation Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern Memorial Hospital and spokesperson for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.  “Providing consumers with quality resources at the click of a mouse will arm them with information and tools that they, and their caregivers, need to stay one step ahead of the game.”

When visiting the valvular website, consumers can expect to access content and videos on heart valve problems and causes, signs and symptoms, accurate diagnosis, treatment options and goals to help them achieve ideal heart health with their current valvular condition.  Additionally, the site’s features include patient stories, animated graphics and expert testimonials and explanations of basic valve issues. 

“Edwards is passionate about helping patients and has been focused on innovating technologies for heart valve patients since its founding more than 50 years ago,” said Michael A. Mussallem, chairman and CEO of Edwards Lifesciences.  “Through our work with the American Heart Association, we are now able to help provide these patients with robust online information and tools to enable them to better manage their disease and improve their quality of life.”         

For more information on valvular disease visit www.heart.org/heartvalves.

About the American Heart Association 
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke — America’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or join us, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or any of our offices around the country, or visit heart.org.

About Edwards Lifesciences and The Edwards Lifesciences Fund Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW) is the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring. Driven by a passion to help patients, the company partners with clinicians to develop innovative technologies in the areas of structural heart disease and critical care monitoring that enable them to save and enhance lives.  In 2004, Edwards Lifesciences established The Edwards Lifesciences Fund at the Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program to support advancements in knowledge and improvements in quality-of-life, focusing primarily upon cardiovascular disease and the communities where its employees live and work. The Fund’s mission is fulfilled by making grants to qualified charitable organizations. Additional information about the company and its Fund can be found at www.edwards.com.

Media Contact:
Alexandra Paterson
alexandra.paterson@heart.org ; 214-706-1345

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Alexandra Paterson

Communications

American Heart Association

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