Can young athletes be screened for heart defects?

The AHA and ACC have long suggested that careful evaluation with personal and family history and a cardiovascular examination should be done in young people, athletes and non-athletes alike. This can pick up some heart problems that may not be found with simple ECG screening alone.

What type of cardiac screening Do athletes require?

The benefits and drawbacks of EKG screenings In an effort to uncover a heart problem and prevent sudden death in an athlete, some organizations are advocating for all student athletes to undergo electrocardiograms (EKGs, also referred to as ECGs).

Do most young athletes have symptoms of SCA?

The warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest In most cases, sudden cardiac arrest strikes young athletes without warning. However, in some cases, there are warning signs or symptoms that an athlete may have a heart condition that puts him at risk of a sudden cardiac arrest.

Is there a screening tool for HCM or athletes heart?

12-lead ECG screening This screening includes a 12-lead ECG which has allowed the identification of athletes previously undiagnosed with HCM.

How are young athletes screened for heart disease?

last year by the AHA and American College of Cardiology. The checklist is a 14-part evaluation for young athletes that includes questions about family and personal history, including heart-related symptoms such as fainting or chest discomfort.

What kind of tests are done on athletes?

In an effort to uncover a heart problem and prevent sudden death in an athlete, some organizations are advocating for all student athletes to undergo electrocardiograms (EKGs, also referred to as ECGs). EKGs monitor the electrical signals that control how the heart beats and pumps blood.

What kind of heart disease can young athletes have?

Screening young athletes for heart disease. ECGs can also miss dangerous heart problems. For those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a thickening of the heart muscle and the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes, research shows that at least one in 10 will have a normal ECG.

Can a college athlete be tested for heart disease?

But what will be missing from the NCAA guidelines — expected in 2016 — is a recommendation to automatically screen all college athletes with an electrocardiogram, a test that measures the heart’s electrical activity to check for a number of heart problems. Testing entire teams would pose a logistical and financial challenge for some universities.