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  • Cardiovascular Screening for Young Athletes

     
     
     
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    The recommendations of the American Heart Association from a 1996 panel state that some form of pre-participation cardiovascular screening for high school and college student-athletes is compelling – for ethical, legal and medical reasons. 

    Although specific tests, such as ECG, echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) or stress testing during exercise, can help diagnose heart disease, they are not recommended routinely.  In view of the very low frequency of heart-related athletic deaths, it is likely that mass diagnostic screening would result in more "false positive" results than results indicating actual heart disease.  

    It is up to the individual physician to decide, based on a complete medical history and physical examination, which tests are appropriate for his or her young patients.  

  • Related Heart & Valve Disease

    Substance Abuse and The Young Athlete’s Heart

    Substance abuse in young athletes can cause significant heart problems that can lead to debilitation and even death. Drug testing may always be needed, not only to prevent participation with an unfair advantage, but also to save young people from the damaging and possibly lethal effects of substance abuse.

    Sudden Death in Young Athletes

    Heart disease in young athletes has been tragically brought to attention by the sudden deaths of such well known athletes as Florence Griffith Joyner, Reggie Lewis, Pete Maravich, Hank Gathers and Len Bias.

  • Related Treatment & Prevention

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