Should I include an EKG in my student athlete’s physical?
Heather Sholl
Concierge Wellness Coach April 2020
Should I include an EKG in my student athlete’s physical?
The short answer is yes. If you can avoid a tragic surprise, however unlikely, and it’s simple, why not? And why aren’t cardiac screenings required? Now that we’re adding cardiac initiatives, I’ve been researching this exact thing. Like many other medical anomalies, the risk of heart attack in an otherwise healthy child is very minimal and if we were all screened for every single thing, our doctors and hospitals wouldn't have time to treat everyone.
Our kids these days are exposed to a different environment in sports than we were. The competition is as tough as ever with high school athletes participating in specialized training outside of team practices to focus on strength, conditioning, agility and speed, to name a few. In addition to the frequency and intensity of sport, they are also performing much of this in hotter conditions than we were exposed to. The great news is that in that same timeframe, technology has exploded to give us the opportunity to test and measure our bodies in infinite ways for minimal costs. This is especially an advantage with regard to prevention. Prevention is what we preach here and we want you, our community, to be up to date and informed on how to get ahead of unnecessary risks for yourselves and your kiddos.
Sudden cardiac deaths among young athletes are rare, but that doesn’t make them any less shocking. Heart defects are more common in boys than in girls. And according to data, basketball seems to be the riskiest sport. Scientists believe it is because of the quick sprints. There is no central registry for these deaths. Studies suggest that in the U.S. fewer than 70 young athletes die of sudden cardiac death each year. So the risk is minuscule. Fewer than 1 out of 100,000 young athletes -- .6 to be more precise – will collapse and die playing sports. That said, the risk is there and we can test for it.
According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, many of these deaths can be prevented if children and parents recognize the early warning signs of SCA and seek medical attention before a crisis occurs.
Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating due to an abnormality in its electrical pulses. This abnormal rhythm can result in rapid quivering of the heart (ventricular fibrillation) or no heartbeat at all (asystole).
A child who experiences a sudden cardiac arrest loses consciousness, stops breathing or gasps for breath and becomes unresponsive, possibly with shaking (seizure-like) movement. CPR and use of an automated external defibrillation (AED) within two to five minutes of the event can prevent an interruption in blood flow to the brain. Again, this is highly unlikely to occur, but as a parent myself, I understand the interest in learning everything possible to protect my child and their peers.
In an effort to help, we are offering complimentary heart screenings for students in May with Board Certified Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Aliota at The Villages Gym. There will also be additional cardiac support staff including a dietitian and nurse available for Q&A at the event. If you are interested in more details and/or would like to sign your child up for a complimentary heart screening, please email me at trainer@thevillgesgym.com.