Websites for learning more about SCA
The International Criteria is a new standard for reading electrocardiograms (ECGs) for athletes. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of mortality in athletes while playing sports. Most hereditary, structural or electrical cardiac disorders that are associated with SCD in young athletes can be identified or suggested by abnormalities on a resting 12-lead ECG. Read more about it in the British Journal of Sports Medicine:
bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2017/03/03/bjsports-2016-097331
Here is a new publication (2019) from Nick of Time Foundation and UW Medicine doctors:
Performance of the American Heart Association (AHA) 14-Point Evaluation Versus Electrocardiography for the Cardiovascular Screening of High School Athletes: A Prospective Study. It concludes that the AHA 14-point evaluation performs poorly compared with ECG for cardiovascular screening of high school athletes. The use of consensus-derived history questionnaires as the primary tool for cardiovascular screening in athletes should be reevaluated.
Avive Solutions, Inc. is a privately held healthcare technology company based in San Francisco. They are developing a next generation AED and software solutions in an effort to significantly increase survival rates from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Check out the facts about Sudden Cardiac Arrest here: https://www.avive.life/facts
Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY-United Kingdom) has a lot of helpful information. This page describes the various conditions that can lead to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. http://www.myheart.org.uk/conditions/
Parent Heart Watch supports health, education, action and advocacy in protecting youth from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. http://parentheartwatch.org/
Parent Heart Watch lists free or affordable heart screenings in your area.http://parentheartwatch.org/HeartScreeningEvents.aspx
Screen Across America is another place where you can find screenings in your area.
www.screenacrossamerica.org/
Why is learning CPR so important? What exactly does an AED do? See this article for a simple explanation and watch this animated video for a very helpful visual on why and how CPR works to save lives.
bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2017/03/03/bjsports-2016-097331
Here is a new publication (2019) from Nick of Time Foundation and UW Medicine doctors:
Performance of the American Heart Association (AHA) 14-Point Evaluation Versus Electrocardiography for the Cardiovascular Screening of High School Athletes: A Prospective Study. It concludes that the AHA 14-point evaluation performs poorly compared with ECG for cardiovascular screening of high school athletes. The use of consensus-derived history questionnaires as the primary tool for cardiovascular screening in athletes should be reevaluated.
Avive Solutions, Inc. is a privately held healthcare technology company based in San Francisco. They are developing a next generation AED and software solutions in an effort to significantly increase survival rates from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Check out the facts about Sudden Cardiac Arrest here: https://www.avive.life/facts
Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY-United Kingdom) has a lot of helpful information. This page describes the various conditions that can lead to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. http://www.myheart.org.uk/conditions/
Parent Heart Watch supports health, education, action and advocacy in protecting youth from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. http://parentheartwatch.org/
Parent Heart Watch lists free or affordable heart screenings in your area.http://parentheartwatch.org/HeartScreeningEvents.aspx
Screen Across America is another place where you can find screenings in your area.
www.screenacrossamerica.org/
Why is learning CPR so important? What exactly does an AED do? See this article for a simple explanation and watch this animated video for a very helpful visual on why and how CPR works to save lives.
Athletic Testing Solutions, based in Overland Park, Kansas, offers heart checks and a great deal of information on their website. http://atsheartcheck.com/
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes Foundation has information on heart rhythm abnormalities. http://www.sads.org/
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common causes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Find out more about HCM at https://www.4hcm.org/
Resources - articles
Looking for data from the US Naval Academy pilot screening program? The numbers are in this abstract, Effective Cardiovasular Screening of Military Recruits Requires an Electrocardiogram, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
A comparison of the American Heart Association's 14-point evaluation for cardiovasular screening in athletes to electrocardiogram (ECG) screening reveals that the ECG outperforms the AHA 14-point by all measures of statistical performance when interpreted by experienced clinicians. AHA 14-point vs ECG _ JAHA 2019
In this article in the Seattle Times, "Sudden Cardiac Death: Why a Sports Physical for Teens Is Not Enough," Dr. Kimberly Harmon explains how an electrocardiogram (ECG) can reliably identify about 60 to 70 percent of conditions that cause sudden cardiac death. [November 1, 2016]
Do you know the difference between sudden cardiac arrest and a heart attack? Click on this page,Heart Attack or Sudden Cardiac Arrest: How are they Different? to find out more.
Researchers funded by the charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) have published new research in the journal, “Circulation: Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology," highlighting that more than 80% of cases of young sudden arrhythmic death (SADS) between the ages of 18 and 35 occur during sleep or at rest – a much higher proportion than those who die playing sports at either an elite or grass roots level. See UK Study calls for wider cardiac screening as new research confirms not just athletes and "sporty" young people at risk.
Research was published in May 2015 from Dr. Kim Harmon, UW Medicine. This is amazing new data that shows how a systematic, scientifically based approach that includes an EKG/ECG can make a difference. History and Physical aren't enough to help keep our kids safe to play the sports they love. Here is the abstract.
The Wall Street Journal posted an article based on Dr. Harmon's study, above. More accurate statistics reveal that Sudden Cardiac Arrest is more common than previously thought. The debate over whether to screen with EKGs rages on. Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Should the NCAA Require EKG Testing?
A comparison of the American Heart Association's 14-point evaluation for cardiovasular screening in athletes to electrocardiogram (ECG) screening reveals that the ECG outperforms the AHA 14-point by all measures of statistical performance when interpreted by experienced clinicians. AHA 14-point vs ECG _ JAHA 2019
In this article in the Seattle Times, "Sudden Cardiac Death: Why a Sports Physical for Teens Is Not Enough," Dr. Kimberly Harmon explains how an electrocardiogram (ECG) can reliably identify about 60 to 70 percent of conditions that cause sudden cardiac death. [November 1, 2016]
Do you know the difference between sudden cardiac arrest and a heart attack? Click on this page,Heart Attack or Sudden Cardiac Arrest: How are they Different? to find out more.
Researchers funded by the charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) have published new research in the journal, “Circulation: Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology," highlighting that more than 80% of cases of young sudden arrhythmic death (SADS) between the ages of 18 and 35 occur during sleep or at rest – a much higher proportion than those who die playing sports at either an elite or grass roots level. See UK Study calls for wider cardiac screening as new research confirms not just athletes and "sporty" young people at risk.
Research was published in May 2015 from Dr. Kim Harmon, UW Medicine. This is amazing new data that shows how a systematic, scientifically based approach that includes an EKG/ECG can make a difference. History and Physical aren't enough to help keep our kids safe to play the sports they love. Here is the abstract.
The Wall Street Journal posted an article based on Dr. Harmon's study, above. More accurate statistics reveal that Sudden Cardiac Arrest is more common than previously thought. The debate over whether to screen with EKGs rages on. Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Should the NCAA Require EKG Testing?
May 2019 - The Navy has issued new guidelines following the deaths of two Navy recruits within eight weeks. The new guidelines call for halting participants' physical activity when they show unusual distress or fatigue and allowing them to make up the training or test later. They also now require CPR-trained personnel with AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) to be present during the Physical Readiness Test.
Navy Calls for Closer Fitness Test Monitoring Following Recruit Deaths
Navy Announces Universal Training Precautions for Physical Exercise
Navy Calls for Closer Fitness Test Monitoring Following Recruit Deaths
Navy Announces Universal Training Precautions for Physical Exercise
Dr. Mark Haigney has written an article, "Cardiovascular Screening in the U. S. Military: Time to Reconsider the Electrocardiogram", which counters the arguments against cardiac screening and explains the reasons it is cost-effective and will save lives. Download the pdf here.