Heart valve disease is a common condition that can have serious consequences if not treated, yet public awareness of it is low, the heart and stroke charity, Croí, has warned.

It is calling on all people over the age of 65 to ask their doctor to listen to their heart with a stethoscope at least once a year.

Heart valve disease is a serious but treatable condition. It occurs when one or more of the heart's four valves, which are responsible for the flow of blood in the body, become diseased or damaged.

This results in a narrowing of the valves (stenosis) or leakage (regurgitation), which means that the heart cannot pump blood effectively.

There are a number of causes. For example, the heart may have been damaged by a previous infection or heart attack, or it may be simply be due to age-related wear and tear. In fact, the chances of developing it increase with age, especially after the age of 75. An estimated 13% of people over 75 will experience the condition.

The disease is initially picked up by using a stethoscope, which listens to the heart for a heart murmur. If a murmur is heard, the patient will be referred to a cardiologist for further tests.

Currently, more than 2.7 million Europeans over the age of 65 are affected, however this figure is expected to increase to 20 million over the next two decades because more people are now living longer.

"We know that the outcomes for people who are not treated for heart valve disease are stark. More than half of those with severe aortic stenosis - the most common form of heart valve disease - die within two years of developing symptoms if not treated.

"We also know that some of the symptoms such as breathlessness, feeling older than our age, tiredness and weakness, are often ignored and dismissed as simply age catching up with us," explained cardiovascular nurse specialist and Croí director of programmes, Irene Gibson.

She pointed out that heart valve disease is "predominantly a condition of ageing" and with more people living longer now, it is essential that it is diagnosed as early as possible.

"Our older generation makes a vital contribution to society and as highlighted by COVID-19, we need to proactively cherish and protect them. With more people living longer, we need to ensure that they can enjoy healthy longevity," Ms Gibson said.

She highlighted the fact that heart valve disease is one of the few heart conditions that has "almost curative treatment options through either heart valve repair or replacement".

"Our message is simple - if you are over age 65, ask for a stethoscope examination at least once a year when visiting your doctor," Ms Gibson added.

Croí is highlighting this issue ahead of International Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week, which is set to run from September 14-20. For more information on the disease, click here.