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Hearts, Hands And Help To Detect And Prevent Sudden Cardiac Death In Young Athletes
The sudden death of a young person: it’s shocking, it’s tragic, and it’s preventable. At MedAdvanced, we are working to provide low cost, non-invasive screening because detection is the only path to prevention for sudden cardiac death in our children.
Many of the causes of sudden cardiac death in young athletes or potential athletes can be detected through non-invasive, painless screening exams.
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The reality of sudden cardiac death in children
and athletes
Over 450,000 Americans collapse and die of sudden cardiac death each year and an alarming number of these deaths are young people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sudden cardiac deaths of people between the ages of 15-34 have increased by 10 percent in the last decade. The number one cause of sudden death in young athletes is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. According to Barry J. Maron, M.D., Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (Minneapolis, MN), Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) affects one in 500 people and is the most common cause of sudden death in young people. “We loose one young athlete every 3 days from HCM alone”. Dr. Maron says that while there are nuances about liability, for the most part, the cardiology community supports the efforts of privatized screening. "HCM doesn't have to be a death sentence. High-risk patients… can have implantable defibrillators and go on to lead normal, active lives. The key is early detection." There are treatments and interventions available for many other cardiac issues, such as Long QT Syndrome, that can be implemented to save a child and allow them to continue to lead a normal, happy, healthy life.
MedAdvanced is working to make a difference.
Most of these cardiac diseases that can lead to sudden death do not create symptoms prior to a catastrophic event. As such, Insurance Carriers will not pay to screen a young athlete who does not present with any symptoms or risk factors. The cost for 2 highly technical, targeted, lifesaving screening procedures is generally $800-$1500, until now. MedAdvanced is working to bring Low Cost cardiac screening clinics to schools and communities across New England, and in other areas of the United States. Our Low Cost Cardiac Screening includes:
- Decades of mobile cardiac screening experience
- Registered Cardiac Sonographers who have years of experience in pediatric and adult echocardiography
- State of the art mobile ultrasound and EKG units, the same units used by major medical facilities across the country, including UMASS Medical Center and Yale University
- Local, Board Certified, State licensed Cardiologists who read and interpret every test we perform
- Mobile event experts to develop and coordinate plans that provide cardiac screening at significantly lower costs than you would expect to pay in a laboratory or imaging center
- LOW COST screenings at about 1/10th of the average cost per test and sometimes for even no cost at all to the parents or athletes being screened.
The tests that save athletes lives.
An ACT (Athletic Cardiac Testing) Event by MedAdvanced includes the 2 most important cardiac screening tests: an EKG (electrocardiogram) and an Echo (ultrasound of the heart).
Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
The ECG is painless. It is a device that measures the electrical activity of the heart. By attaching a set of adhesive wires from this device to your body, an electrical current is received and translated into a report that is printed and reviewed by a doctor. It is a fast, simple and non-invasive exam that is used to detect various heart abnormalities. ECG testing has become mandatory in other countries, such as Italy. In Italy the rate of sudden cardiac deaths in young athletes fell by nearly 90 percent over a 25-year period after requiring ECG screening.
Echocardiogram (Echo)
Echocardiography is an ultrasound of the heart. It is a painless, noninvasive diagnostic test performed by a trained sonographer. The instrument is used to transmit the high-frequency sound waves through a small, smooth wand, which is placed on your ribs near the breast bone and directed toward the heart. The wand, called a transducer picks up the echoes of the sound waves and transmits them as electrical impulses. The echocardiography unit converts these impulses into moving pictures of the heart. The moving pictures allow a doctor, usually a Cardiologist, to assess the thickness, size, and function of the organ.
What types of problems can Echo screening detect?
- Anomalies of the heart valves
- Aortic root assessment
- Some coronary artery anomalies
- Evidence of abnormal thickening of the heart muscle and chambers
- Structural abnormalities
- Signs of insufficient blood flow and regurgitation
- Evidence of a new or previous heart attack
- Inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart
Low Cost Athletic Cardiac Screenings are available
in your community.
ACT now to prevent sudden cardiac death. MedAdvanced can bring an ACT (Athletic Cardiac Testing) Event to your school or community. We coordinate a screening event that brings hospital quality ultrasound imaging, education, and interactive displays, all scaled to a variety of budget opportunities and constraints. We believe no family should suffer the loss of a child due to detectable but unnoticeable cardiac issues. We believe every community should know that cardiac abnormalities are more prevalent than many other childhood diseases, and can be detected and treated. We use the strength of our experience in mobile medical assessments and pediatric echocardiography to bring a low cost and sometimes NO COST screening events right to the doorstep of your school or sporting community.
- We organize the event.
- We donate the utilization of our state of the art echocardiography and EKG equipment.
- We donate the supplies for testing.
- We work with sponsoring organizations within your community and the greater Cardiac Care community.
- We have opportunities to help defray costs by utilizing parents, coaches, teachers and even students as volunteers.
- We provide all the marketing materials, educational materials and community outreach and an 800# for questions or concerns.
- Results are interpreted by local Board Certified Cardiologists. Results are available within 1 week. Results are coordinated with the primary care physician or team physician to ensure continuum of care if there is cause for concern. Our technicians are trained in pediatric ultrasound and RUSH STAT results are available when required, usually within 48 hours.
- All results are handled with the utmost regard and all state and federal medical privacy laws are adhered to.
Scheduling an event is easy. Call our office and speak to a member of our staff. We will schedule a convenient time to talk about how we can work together to accomplish a LOW COST/NO COST athletic cardiac screening event in your community. No team is too small. 860-666-ECHO or toll free at 866-558-ECHO. ACT now to prevent sudden cardiac death.
For more information:
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes Foundation
Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation
CARE-Cardiac Arrhythmias Research and Education
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