Each year, we hear devastating stories of young athletes lost to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) without warning. The Team at Living for Zachary knows stories like this all too well, as our own namesake Zachary Schrah collapsed from SCA during football practice in 2009. As we read about new tragedies at an alarming rate, we worry about the hearts of the young athletes in our lives – and rightfully so. At any moment, could they be at risk for a cardiac event while performing strenuous athletic activity? While the impact of SCA in sports is well documented, the risk off the field for all youth, athletes or not, is often left out of the conversation. Here are three reasons why all kids should receive a multi-faceted heart screening:
1. Congenital heart conditions can occur in any child.
While some conditions affecting the heart can be brought on by multiple factors as a person ages, many heart conditions are present from birth and show no symptoms. This means that many children, athletes and non-athletes, have been living with heart conditions their entire lives which could affect them at any moment.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited condition in which the heart muscle is thickened and can increase a child’s risk for SCA as they enter teen years. While a normal physical may only detect a heart murmur and not be a great cause for concern, further exploration with an electrocardiogram and echocardiogram can help detect the condition and lead to prevention of SCA in the future[1].
Other examples of heart conditions which can be inherited and lead to SCA[2]:
- Brugada Syndrome (Electrical Issue)
- Long Q-T Syndrome (Electrical Issue)
- Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome (Electrical Issue)
2. It doesn’t take high intensity sports to trigger exertion on the heart.
High intensity sports such as football, track, and basketball are often involved in stories surrounding sudden cardiac arrest. While sudden cardiac arrest is the #1 killer of student athletes[2], many common and every day occurrences can trigger a cardiac event for a child with a heart condition. For example, stimuli such as a sudden scare, excitement, or even regular exercise can be enough to cause a fainting episode for those with Long Q-T Syndrome[3]. In worse cases, sudden cardiac arrest can occur, leaving only seconds for bystanders to respond and save a life.
3. The majority of sudden cardiac arrests happen at home.
The American Heart Association reports almost 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home[3]. This means that sports fields and gyms are far from the only places we should be concerned about when protecting our children’s hearts. Cardiac arrests can occur while visiting with friends and family, playing video games, or even sleeping. While we may hear about athletic activity being a trigger for SCA in teens and young adults, Parent Heart Watch reports that only 5-25% of cardiac arrests in youth happen during this time[2].
SCA can occur at any time, any place, and to any child. Regardless of athletic activity, every young person deserves a comprehensive heart screening which seeks to detect potential issues that could lead to SCA in the future. Living for Zachary’s unique heart screening program for ages 12-22 includes a electrocardiogram, limited echocardiogram, blood pressure screening, and SCA Risk Health Questionnaire. All of these items are reviewed by a board-certified cardiologist to determine if follow-up testing or care is needed.
Our children’s hearts are too precious to wait: make sure EVERY heart you love is screened!