Heart valve disease which increases risk of strokes and heart attacks is lurking undiagnosed in ONE QUARTER of supposedly 'healthy' Brits, study finds

More than a quarter of apparently healthy over-60s have undiagnosed heart valve disease, a landmark study suggests.

For the first time, research has revealed the number of Britons who unknowingly have the condition – which can increase the chances of heart attack and stroke.

Heart scans were carried out on almost 4,500 symptomless adults, with 28 per cent found to have heart valve disease.

Cases were typically more severe with age, leading researchers to suggest it could one day lead to targeted screening of those most at risk.

Blood flows through the heart and around the body in one direction.

More than a quarter of apparently healthy over-60s have undiagnosed heart valve disease, a landmark study suggests

Vassilios Vassiliou, clinical professor of cardiac medicine at UEA's Norwich Medical School, said the study also showed the older a person is, the higher their chance of having a valve issue

For the first time, research has revealed the number of Britons who unknowingly have the condition – which can increase the chances of heart attack and stroke (file pic)

The four heart valves – pulmonary and tricuspid on the right, and aortic and mitral on the left of the heart – control the blood flow.

Heart valve disease is when one or more do not work as they should.

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Researchers from the University of East Anglia examined patients from Norfolk, West Midlands, and Aberdeen using echocardiography, an ultrasound of the heart.

Vassilios Vassiliou, clinical professor of cardiac medicine at UEA's Norwich Medical School, said: 'Our findings showed more than 28 per cent of these adults had some form of valve disease, although reassuringly it was only mild in the majority of the cases.

'The data also indicated… that the older a person is, the higher their chance of having a significant valve issue.'

The main issues included valve stenosis – when a valve does not open fully, restricting blood flow – and valve regurgitation – when a valve does not close properly, allowing blood to leak back in the wrong direction.

Both can force the heart to work harder and in time, raise the risk of a heart attack, stroke or other heart conditions.

Symptoms include breathlessness, chest pain, feeling weak, dizzy or tired, swollen ankles and feet, and chest or neck palpitations.

Further studies are needed to see how screening could be used to help manage the disease, said the paper in the European Heart Journal.

UEA's Norwich Medical School took part in the study, which found  that of almost 4,500 symptomless adults, 28 per cent had heart valve disease