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Understanding Heart Valve Diseases – An Interview with Christian Schäfer regarding the Power of Modern Visualization

Understanding Heart Valve Diseases – An Interview with Christian Schäfer regarding the Power of Modern Visualization

Heart valve diseases often go undetected – their symptoms, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and/or dizziness, are frequently overlooked or misunderstood, leading to late diagnoses. This is precisely why we have Heart Valve Awareness Week every year: A global campaign aimed at raising awareness of heart valve issues, emphasizing early detection, and highlighting the importance of regular medical check-ups.

Initiated by the Global Heart Hub, a non-profit organization of advocates dedicated to providing a voice for those living with or affected by cardiovascular disease, this awareness week targets patients, relatives, and professionals with the aim of providing information and save lives.

A lot changes for people with a heart valve disease –suddenly, as a patient, you find yourself in the middle of such a health issue. What next? In our exclusive interview, Christian Schäfer, a medical journalist and also a recipient of an artificial heart valve, discusses the initial symptoms, the emotions, the uncertainties – and how modern visualization can help transform fear into knowledge and invisibility into transparency.

INTERVIEW EXCERPT – INSIGHT FROM A PATIENT PERSPECTIVE

“I initially didn’t pay attention to my heart valve. I felt exhausted and had heart rhythm disturbances without knowing the cause.”

This point is important: Often patients do not immediately recognize the signals. Only with the proper diagnosis does an often challenging (but also liberating) journey begin – one full of questions and uncertainties.

How did the diagnosis come about?

"I was on vacation with my family, and suddenly my body just gave out – shortness of breath, exhaustion. The later diagnosis: a defective aortic valve, grade four. The feeling of uncertainty was strong, and the fear for my family even stronger."

What is it like living with an artificial heart valve?

“My heart clicks – I’ve been living with it for decades. I test my coagulation levels weekly, take only the anticoagulant, and stay active. It’s a new rhythm, but it’s my life. Humor is also part of it: I was in rehab during which I joked in the sauna about who was clicking – until I realized, it was me!”

What was lacking in the understanding?

“There were a lot of words – but few images. I would have liked to actually see the whole thing. What exactly was valve insufficiency?  I didn’t know. I didn’t have an image I could visualize in my mind and when you can’t see something, it remains abstract. And that’s frightening.

This is where our service comes in: The "Heart Valve" project is an initiative by medicalvision, realized in close cooperation with The Heart Valve Initiative. Together, we want to make medical processes clear and understandable for both patients and doctors.

The Unity-3D application developed by medicalvision translates complex medical concepts into understandable, interactive visualizations. Patients – as well as relatives and doctors – can see, with just a few clicks, what a healthy or a diseased heart valve looks and sounds like as well as see how they function. This makes what was invisible, now something you can understand.

  • Visual Representation: Anatomical details are presented as an interactive 3D model in a clear and accurate manner.
  • Auditory Experience: Heart sounds and noises of a healthy or diseased organ are made audible.
  • Interactivity: Users can control the application on a screen or tablet themselves.

Our Goal: To reduce fear, impart knowledge, and facilitate decision-making.

MORE UNDERSTANDING – MORE COMPLIANCE

In our conversation with Christian Schäfer, it became clear: Early education and emotional support through clear, innovative tools like the Unity-3D application can make a difference when it comes to accepting the disease rather than fearing it. This visible and audible experience helps patients understand the processes and therapies and help them actively participate in their new journey.

Watch the Full Interview with Christian Schäfer

In the full interview, Christian Schäfer shares more about his diagnosis, life with an artificial heart valve, and why visual patient education can make medical information easier to understand.

Watch the full interview on YouTube

 

Learn more

Visit our website https://www.die-herzklappe.de/3d/  – there you can try the app out, you’ll find further blog posts, and plenty of information on the topic of heart valves and the latest in education.

Do you want to make medical processes undertandable?

As experienced experts in 3D visualization in the healthcare sector and for digital patient education, we would be happy to advise you face to face. Contact us for a non-binding conversation at info@medicalvision.de.

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