Heart Valve Voice has joined forces with Brentford Football Club to raise awareness of heart valve disease by offering free heart check-ups at its Championship League home game against Burton Albion on Saturday 10 December.

Fans over the age of 55 will have the opportunity to get their heart health checked at Griffin Park before the 3pm kick-off. The check-up event is one of three taking place across the UK as part of the charity’s National Football #TackleValveDisease campaign.

“We are delighted to be supporting Heart Valve Voice with their launch of the Tackle Valve Disease Programme to raise awareness of this underdiagnosed condition amongst the football community,” commented Cliff Crown, Chairman of Brentford Football Club. “We hope our fans and members of the local community will take the opportunity to come to the ground to have their hearts checked and learn more about the signs and symptoms of heart valve disease.”

Heart specialists will conduct check-ups by listening to people’s hearts with a stethoscope. A simple stethoscope check can detect a characteristic heart ‘murmur’, which can be the first indication of a problem with the heart valves.

Heart valve disease is a common, but treatable, heart condition where the heart valves no longer work properly. When the valves are diseased it can rapidly affect the pumping action of blood around the body. However, many patients do not suffer severe or visible symptoms, or put their symptoms (breathlessness, fatigue and chest pains) down to the natural ageing process, making diagnosis difficult.

Approximately 1.5 million people over the age of 65 are currently affected by the condition in the UK. Check-ups will be taking place at the stadium from 1.30pm on Saturday 10 December. If you would like to come along for an over 55s heart valve check-up at Brentford, please contact info@heartvalvevoice.com to be booked in, or speak with one of our volunteers on the day.

Please also show your support for those with heart valve disease by giving your voice on the Heart Valve Voice website: http://heartvalvevoice.com/healthcare-professionals/give-a-voice

Based on information supplied by .