"心脏瓣膜相当于心脏里面单向的阀门，这样的阀门总共有四个，它们协同工作，共同确保血流单 向流动，而不会倒流。"马量形象地解释道，"如果瓣膜出现问题，比如关不严或开不大，就会导致血液 反流或前进受阻，从而引发胸闷、气急、心悸等一系列症状。" 马量进一步指出："随着我国社会老龄化进程加速，心脏瓣膜疾病的主要病因也已发生显著变化。 以往，瓣膜病主要是以风湿性心脏病为主，但现在逐渐转变为以退行性病变为主。" "我国瓣膜病患者数量庞大，但诊断和治疗缺口巨大。很多患者未能被及时诊断，常常拖到症状严 重，甚至出现静息状态下都气急时才就医。此时，心脏超声检查往往发现瓣膜病变已非常严重，甚至已 经影响了心功能。"马量提醒，"一旦出现相关症状，及时到医院检查非常重要。我们主要依靠心脏超声 就能对瓣膜病做出清晰诊断，心电图、胸片也能提供很好的辅助。这些方法都很成熟，诊断准确性 高。" 中新网浙江新闻11月27日电（张煜欢）在浙江大学医学院附属第一医院心脏大血管外科，来自江西 的张阿姨（化名）曾深受心脏瓣膜疾病困扰近十年，一度因对传统"大开胸"手术的恐惧而拒绝治疗，直 到今年身体状况明显恶化，她才终于下定决心接受手术。令人欣慰的是， ...

Core Insights - The article highlights the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in China, particularly heart valve diseases, which have become a significant public health issue affecting the elderly population [1][2]. Group 1: Prevalence and Impact - Approximately 330 million people in China suffer from cardiovascular diseases, with heart valve diseases being the third most common after coronary heart disease and hypertension [1]. - About 25 million individuals are affected by valve diseases, with 1 in 10 elderly individuals over 65 years old having heart valve issues, leading to heart failure and sudden death [1][2]. Group 2: Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment - There is a low detection rate (1.7%) and intervention rate (37.3%) for heart valve diseases among the elderly, indicating a significant gap in awareness and healthcare access [3][4]. - The progression of valve diseases is staged, and early intervention is crucial; untreated severe aortic stenosis patients have a 50% survival rate at 2 years and only 20% at 5 years [2][5]. Group 3: Treatment Approaches - Treatment options include medication, surgical intervention, and minimally invasive procedures, with surgery being critical for improving prognosis in moderate to severe cases [5][6]. - The choice between biological and mechanical valves depends on various factors, including patient age and overall health, with a shift towards increased use of biological valves in recent years [6][7]. Group 4: Management and Follow-up - A comprehensive management approach covering prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation is essential for improving patient outcomes [4][7]. - Post-operative management is often neglected, leading to challenges in follow-up care, especially for elderly patients who may require assistance to attend appointments [7].