Donna Stricklett had the weirdest feeling. She would walk into a store, see and hear things, but something just wasn't right. Donna said "It was like everything in the brain slowed down for a few moments."

Donna lived this way for two years before realizing she really needed to see a doctor. The news wasn't good. Her heart valve needed to be replaced. Valves regulate blood flow, and when they're damaged, the heart becomes inefficient. Her story is the focus of October's Healthcheck report.

Valve issues usually turn up in our late 40s or early 50s. Doctor Mohammed Quader, a heart specialist with Alegent Health, says the problem equally affects men and women, but there is a difference. This type of open heart surgery is two-and-a-half times more risky for women. The key is to catch the problem early.

Anyone with a heart murmur or who had Rheumatic Heart Disease as a child is more at risk. They should pay close attention to how their body behaves. For the rest of us fatigue, trouble sleeping, and chest discomfort are all signs to be aware of. Doctor Quader says the good news is 80 percent of the time our own valves can be fixed. But if we let the problem go for too long, it can be too little, too late.

Donna Stricklett chose a cow valve, only for it to go bad within a few years. She had a mechanical valve inserted this summer, and her heart function and energy level are back.

Asked why she chose to do this story, Donna said "I have a feeling there's probably more women out there, you're busy raising your kids, you have this, 'Oh, it'll go away in a minute. I just overdid... And you chalk it up to other things and don't pay attention."

It's a mistake Donna doesn't want to see repeated.

Tracy