DON’T MISS THOSE SPECIAL MOMENTS!

Whether it was walking the beat or his time in the tactical response group, placing the lives of those caught up in hostage situations in his hands, Jeff put his life on the line for the citizens of New South Wales for nearly 24 years. “I’ve been busy!”, Jeff quipped as he casually yet proudly mentioned that he had travelled the world as the security manager of INXS.

Behind this cool, brave, and charming veneer was a man who had been through more than his share of personal tribulations. One of the greatest threats to Jeff’s health wasn’t a crazed criminal or an overzealous fan trying in vain to lay a finger on Michael Hutchence. It was a little-known yet deadly heart disease known as aortic stenosis.

Aortic stenosis is one of the most common and severe heart valve diseases. It involves narrowing of the aortic valve, usually as result of a calcium build-up over time. The aortic valve allows blood to flow from the heart’s left chamber to the main artery in the body, the aorta. This narrowing impedes blood flow around the body¹. Aortic stenosis is a progressive disease that, when severe and untreated, may take the lives of 50% of patients within two years².

Further, despite cancer consistently being one of the top concerns for people across Australia, severe aortic stenosis has a five-year survival rate worse than metastatic breast, colorectal and lung cancers^3,4. Approximately one-third of patients experience no symptoms, allowing aortic stenosis to escape attention for several years before symptoms gradually or rapidly appear⁵.

WATCH: WHAT IS AORTIC STENOSIS?

When these symptoms eventually appear, they can indicate the disease has progressed to the severe stage. These symptoms include breathlessness, chest pain, fatigue, palpitations and feeling dizzy or faint⁶. On experiencing symptoms, Jeff stated, “I was lucky if I could walk without experiencing some chest pain. I felt limited.” The way these symptoms deteriorated Jeff and his wife Carol’s quality of life was also stark. “I was slowly declining, couldn’t walk and always had to know where I was going.”

However, even when symptoms do appear, like in Jeff’s case, these symptoms are often dismissed as age-related. Further, according to a YouGov survey conducted in 2020, 40% of Australians over 60 had never or rarely had their heart listened to⁷. In 2021, of the approximately 66,510 Australians suffering from severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, 53,427 were either left untreated or undiagnosed^8,9.

If found quickly, successful treatment options exist for the severe form of aortic stenosis. These treatments can involve the replacement of the aortic valve via surgery or a less invasive procedure with a rapid recovery time. Consultation with a GP and specialist will determine the best option for you.

When Jeff asked his GP to listen to his heart with a stethoscope, the result was life-saving for Jeff and life-changing for both Jeff and Carol. Carol exclaimed, “We went from worry to knowing we can live again!”.

So, if you are over 65 and a GP’s stethoscope hasn’t listened to your heart recently or at all, don’t miss those special moments this Christmas or in 2023. Take that one small step that could save your life – ask a GP to listen to your heart today!

For more information on aortic stenosis, chat with your healthcare professional and click here for your free infokit.

Information on this material includes educational information regarding certain conditions and potential therapies or treatment options. Other therapies or treatment options may be available, and you should discuss any educational information you access online with your healthcare professional. Appropriate treatment for individuals is a matter for healthcare professionals to decide in consultation with each individual.

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