[Insert organization name] Joins Thousands of Advocates to Raise Awareness of Heart Valve Disease on February 22nd
February 22nd is Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day
[Insert City, State], [Insert date of release] – On February 22, [Insert organization name] will celebrate Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, bringing attention to a disease that impacts as many as 11 million Americans. [Insert organization name] will [Insert event or outreach activities] to educate [Insert audience] about heart valve disease and reinforce the importance of early detection and treatment. [If hosting an event, insert details about your organization event like location, time, speakers, on-line availability, etc.].
Heart valve disease involves damage to one or more of the heart’s four valves. While some types are not serious, others can lead to major complications, including death. Each year, more than 25,000 people in the U.S. die from heart valve disease. Fortunately, heart valve disease can usually be successfully treated with valve repair and replacement in patients of all ages.
Valve Disease Day, an awareness day officially acknowledge by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was established in 2017 by the Alliance for Aging Research to spotlight the importance of detecting and treating heart valve disease. [Insert organization name] joins a campaign of more than 100 non-profits, advocacy organizations, professional societies, foundations, and hospitals and heart centers–along with 1,000s of individual advocates–who are working to increase recognition of heart valve disease and reinforce the importance of early detection and treatment. Extensive outreach and numerous events will take place across the country and worldwide.
Despite the millions of Americans affected by heart valve disease, a survey found that three in four adults know little to nothing about heart valve disease. Although age is the greatest risk factor for heart valve disease, 30 percent of survey respondents over age 65 say they know nothing about the disease.
“Awareness of heart valve disease is low, and because there are sometimes no symptoms, or symptoms are dismissed as a normal part of aging, it often goes undetected. That’s why [Insert organization name] is proud to join the Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day campaign to encourage people to listen to their hearts and get the care they need,” said [Insert name and title of organization spokesperson here]. “We want our community members to tune-into the campaign at www.ValveDiseaseDay.org to learn about the importance of listening to their hearts and to help spread the word about the risk factors and symptoms of heart valve disease.” Follow updates from the campaign by visiting [Insert organization website here] and following at [Insert organization social media handles] on social media [Insert other relevant links]. You can also learn about all of the campaign activities by following the hashtag #ValveDiseaseDay. Learn more about heart valve disease at www.ValveDiseaseDay.org.
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[Insert organization’s boilerplate and media contact information]