For over a decade, KPRC 2 and Investigative Reporter Bill Spencer have joined forces with the Cody Stephens Foundation on a mission to provide free heart screenings for teen athletes. This partnership, dedicated to preventing tragic incidents related to undetected heart defects, recently held a heart screening event that delivered eye-opening results.
This past Saturday, 313 teen athletes underwent a specialized ECG test, surpassing the standard sports exams typically required by schools. An ECG, also known as an EKG, goes beyond the surface, delving into the intricate details of the heart’s electrical signals, potentially uncovering problems that might be overlooked in routine physicals.
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The numbers are in and the impact is clear: out of the 313 teens screened, three were identified with serious hidden heart abnormalities. These screenings, which proved instrumental in detecting life-threatening issues, serve as a stark reminder of the critical importance of proactive heart health measures for young athletes.
The Cody Stephens Go Big or Go Home Memorial Foundation, established by Scott Stephens in memory of his son Cody, emphasizes the necessity of these screenings in preventing sudden and devastating outcomes. Cody Stephens tragically lost his life to an undetected heart condition just weeks before graduating from Crosby High School, inspiring the foundation’s commitment to saving lives through early detection.
The foundation advises parents to consider ECG screenings for their teens, particularly if they engage in high-impact sports, have a family history of heart disease, experience dizziness during athletics, encounter fainting spells, weakness, or persistent chest pain. Timely detection through these screenings can be a game-changer, preventing major medical issues before they arise.
The cardiac screenings, performed through ECG tests, are quick, painless, noninvasive, and take less than five minutes. In about 2% of cases, further testing, such as an Echocardiogram (Echo), is recommended to get a comprehensive picture of the heart’s structure.
The foundation’s statistics highlight the rarity but significance of the screenings, revealing that 1 in 1,000 individuals screened may be flagged as high risk for cardiac issues with a severe abnormality on their ECG.
Additional heart-screening events for teen athletes will be held throughout the year.
Keep an eye on KPRC 2 and click2houston.com for announcements, and take the proactive step towards ensuring the heart health of the young athletes in your life.