October 20, 2013 — Teen athletes will learn about their heart health, finding out whether they may be at risk of an undiagnosed heart condition at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel’s seventh annualTeen Athlete Cardiac Screening.
When: Saturday, October 12, 2013, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: adidas Village, 5055 N. Greely Avenue, Portland
What: Inspired by the untimely death of local teen athlete David Heller, the Teen Athlete Cardiac Screening provides 500 students from throughout the Portland metropolitan area ages 13-19 a full cardiac screening reviewed by pediatric cardiologists for only $10 dollars. The screening helps identify if a teen may be at risk of an undiagnosed heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) the leading cause of sudden cardiac death among young competitive athletes and the second most prevalent form of heart muscle disease.
The following experts will be available for interviews: Dr. James Kyser, pediatric cardiologist and Bev Heller, executive director of The David Heller Foundation.
Media please call Maegan Vidal at 503-680-7008 if you’re attending the event.
The Teen Athlete Cardiac Screening has screened over 1,000 teens in seven years. Out of the 451 athletes screened in 2012, 53 were not cleared for physical activity and were referred to a healthcare provider for further evaluation.
Teens must attend the screening with their parents and should register at: www.legacyhealth.org/TACS .
Cardiac health exams will be performed by a team of physicians, nurses and technicians. The exams include height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure measurements; an electrocardiogram (ECG); a detailed health history; and cardiac exam. The results are reviewed by a pediatric cardiologist and discussed with students and parents at the screening.
The screening does not take the place of the medical examination required for all student athletes participating in a school sport. The value of the cardiac screening is nearly $300.
