February is American Heart Month, and a pivotal date, February 22nd, shines a spotlight on Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, emphasizing the significance of the role heart valves play in maintaining our overall health and well-being. What function do the heart valves serve? What are the ways a heart valve can fail? We spoke with Icilma Fergus, MD, board-certified in internal medicine and cardiology and director of cardiovascular disparities and clinical lipidology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, about lifestyle prevention strategies, warning signs of valve disease, new treatments, and how patients can be empowered to best advocate for themselves at the doctor’s office.