Quang, 40, experienced multiple strokes stemming from long-standing rheumatic heart disease, which caused severe mitral valve narrowing, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure.

Ms. Tien, 70, experienced severe fatigue, shortness of breath, and leg swelling due to acute heart failure on a background of chronic heart valve disease.

Fatigue during exertion, shortness of breath, and mild leg swelling are often attributed to aging, but these could be early indicators of heart failure.

Difficulty concentrating, shortness of breath, wheezing, and fatigue can be early signs of heart failure, often mistaken for aging or inactivity.

Misconceptions include believing heart failure is similar to a heart attack, that it doesn't occur suddenly, or that there's no cure.