FEB FIT Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week

Dave caught up with Dr Geoff Lester, Perioperative and Internal Medicine Physician for Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week (16–22 February 2026).

Experts warn the condition is set to become the next cardiac epidemic, driven by an ageing population and low public awareness.

Research shows Australians are failing to recognise the symptoms of heart valve disease that could impact over 1.7 million Australians by 2040.

To give Australians a simple, memorable way to recognise red-flag symptoms of heart valve disease, leading heart charity Hearts4heart is launching the SLOW Symptoms campaign.

SLOW stands for:

• Shortness of breath
• Light headedness on exertion
• Feeling Older than your years 
• Weary or unusually fatigued

Image: Hearts4Heart

Hearts4heart – Early diagnose and patient access to therapies