Blessing Health to be host of free heart screening on Feb. 22 at Bella Ease

QUINCY — Blessing Health will hold a free screening to detect heart valve disease from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 22, in the community room of Bella Ease, 721 Broadway. No registration is required.

The screening involves a healthcare provider listening to the heart with a stethoscope of people ages 15 and up to detect any abnormal sounds, known as heart murmurs. Some heart murmurs are harmless and don’t cause any other symptoms. Other heart murmurs could be a sign of heart valve disease.

Four heart valves keep blood flowing through the heart in the correct direction. Sometimes, a valve doesn’t open or close all the way. This can change how blood flows through the heart to the rest of the body, potentially depriving the body and its organs of life-giving oxygen. Heart valve disease treatment depends on the heart valve affected and the type and severity of the disease. Sometimes, surgery is needed to repair or replace a faulty heart valve.

More than five million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with heart valve disease each year. More than 25,000 deaths in the U.S. each year are due to heart valve disease. Those at the highest risk are people 65 years and older. Women are more likely than men to not be diagnosed and to experience worse health outcomes from the condition. Heart valve disease is underdiagnosed and undertreated, especially in African American, Hispanic and Asian populations.

The heart valve disease event will feature informational booths, displays and giveaways. Miss Quincy 2025 Matti McCartney and Miss Quincy Teen 2025 Molly Gerard will be at the Go Red for Women booth. Go Red is the American Heart Association’s national movement to end heart disease and stroke in women.