BETHEL — Daniel vanBuren, MD, director of cardiovascular medicine at the New England Heart Institute at Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, N.H., will return to Bethel during American Heart Month to present a program on “Valvular Heart Disease.”

His program will be from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Bethel Congregational Church on Church Street. Snow date is Feb. 12.

The program will be presented by To Your Health of Western Mountains Senior College.

This is vanBuren’s fourth visit to discuss important issues related to heart disease. He will review valvular anatomy, as well as the diagnosis and treatment options available.

According to vanBuren, valvular heart disease is most commonly a result of aging and involves one of more of the four valves of the heart. The diagnosis is typically made in people after the age of 50, and more than one in 10 people over the age of 75 are diagnosed with the disease. The treatment is surgical repair or replacement of the affected valve.

If the disease is detected early, the outcomes of surgery are excellent and life expectancy can be restored to match that of healthy people within the same age group.

Dr. vanBuren is board certified in internal medicine, adult echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and cardiovascular disease. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. He completed his internal medicine and cardiology training in Brooklyn, N.Y, and resides in Bethel.

The program is sponsored as a community service by To Your Health of WMSC with the collaboration of Bethel Family Health Center and SAD 44/Continuing Education.

The public is invited and admission is free.

Light refreshments will be available.

Spring programs to be offered include “Supermarket Strategies – A Trip to the Supermarket,” with Cathi DiCocoa on March 5, and “Joyful Living” on April 9.

For more information, contact Rosabelle Tifft at 824-2053.