Every three days, sudden cardiac death (SCD) takes the life of a young U.S. athlete, such as a girl playing soccer, a boy at basketball practice or a high school football player.
Usually, there are no advance signs of SCD, and a typical school or sports physical examination won't detect an potentially dangerous heart problem. That why a electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) screening is so important. This simple heart test takes only a few minutes, and can mean the difference between life and death.
"The American Heart Association regards cardiovascular screening for athletes as an important public health issue, for which there are compelling ethical, legal and medical grounds," said Ralph L. Sacco, MD, president of the American Heart Association, said in a recent announcement. "We strongly encourage student-athletes and other participants in organized competitive sports to be screened with a careful history, including family history, and thorough physical examination."
Getting an EKG screening is particularly important if your child has suffered any of these symptoms:
- Frequently feeling faint
- Feeling dizzy during or after exercise
- A racing heartbeat during or after exercise
- Chest pains of any kind
The risk of SCD increases if someone else in the family has had a heart attack or heart arrhythmia.
If the EKG screening detects a possible problem, a cardiologist may recommend other diagnostic tests to get a better understanding of the child's heart. SCD is often related to congenital heart conditions, such as abnormal chambers or valves, or to an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, a coronary artery problem or an inflammation of the heart muscle caused by a viral infection.
For many years, cardiologists thought that SCD was a relatively rare occurrence among young people. But recent research indicates it is actually the leading cause of death among young athletes. Investigators from the University of Washington found that one in 43,770 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes suffered a sudden cardiac death each year from 2004 to 2008. The study also found that black athletes had a higher rate of SDC than white athletes and the risk was higher in males than in females. The highest rates of SCD occurred in basketball, swimming, lacrosse, football and cross-country track.
If a young athlete does suffer a sudden heart attack, call 911 immediately and use an automatic external defibrillator (AED) to keep the child's heart beating until help arrives.
So, if your child is participating in school sports, make an appointment for an EKG screening. It might be the most important call you ever make.
Anthony Rossi, MD, is medical director of Miami Children's Hospital's Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.
MCH Offers Free EKG Screenings to Young Athletes (Larger type than article if possible)
Miami Children's Hospital is offering free EKG screenings to middle and high school sports participants from July 25 through August 27 on the main MCH campus near Coral Gables, and outpatient locations in Doral, Palmetto Bay, West Kendall and Weston. For more information and to schedule an appointment please call 786-624-3292.