Dangers of Undetected Heart Problems in Youth
At least 600 young people die every year as a result of sudden death syndrome an umbrella term for the many different causes of cardiac arrest in young people. Cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack where one of the arteries supplying the heart is blocked with a blood clot, starving the heart muscles of oxygen rich blood. This death in young people are often triggered by sporting activities, which puts pressure on the heart.
Recently, Bolton wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapse during a match on Saturday and was rushed to the hospital, after 78 minutes, he was revived. Some few weeks after Muamba aftermath, an Italian second division soccer player Morosini a midfielder for livorno also collapse after a cardiac arrest in the 31st minute of the match at pescara Italy and never regain consciousness.
A month before the incidence, former Italian volleyball international and Olympic silver medalist vigor borolenta 37 died on the court in a fourth division game after a similar heart problem was detected. In 2003, man city and Cameroonian footballer Marc-vivien foe 28 died after collapsing on the pitch during an international match against Columbia. British Olympic rowing hopeful Scott Rennie 25 suffered a fatal cardiac arrest during training in 2009.
However, these cases are not only experienced by athletes, any strenuous activity or even a shock can trigger attacks in those with undetected heart conditions. You can find cases like collapsing from over excitement or out of fear. Kasia ber, a 17 year old from co Durham, died in 2005 after she was woken by the alarm on her mobile phone. It was latter discovered that she had long QT syndrome which affects the heart electrical system.
A year latter, stoke-on-trent's death was also linked to the shock of her alarm clock going off. She too was said to have undiagnosed long QT. Often times death is the first sign that anything is wrong with the person's heart. What worries experts is that, an estimated 200,000 people under the age of 35 have such an undiagnosed heart problem.
Recently, Bolton wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapse during a match on Saturday and was rushed to the hospital, after 78 minutes, he was revived. Some few weeks after Muamba aftermath, an Italian second division soccer player Morosini a midfielder for livorno also collapse after a cardiac arrest in the 31st minute of the match at pescara Italy and never regain consciousness.
A month before the incidence, former Italian volleyball international and Olympic silver medalist vigor borolenta 37 died on the court in a fourth division game after a similar heart problem was detected. In 2003, man city and Cameroonian footballer Marc-vivien foe 28 died after collapsing on the pitch during an international match against Columbia. British Olympic rowing hopeful Scott Rennie 25 suffered a fatal cardiac arrest during training in 2009.
However, these cases are not only experienced by athletes, any strenuous activity or even a shock can trigger attacks in those with undetected heart conditions. You can find cases like collapsing from over excitement or out of fear. Kasia ber, a 17 year old from co Durham, died in 2005 after she was woken by the alarm on her mobile phone. It was latter discovered that she had long QT syndrome which affects the heart electrical system.
A year latter, stoke-on-trent's death was also linked to the shock of her alarm clock going off. She too was said to have undiagnosed long QT. Often times death is the first sign that anything is wrong with the person's heart. What worries experts is that, an estimated 200,000 people under the age of 35 have such an undiagnosed heart problem.
The cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) charity has campaigned for all young people aged 14-35 to have their hearts screened. An ECG or ultrasound scan could detect abnormalities before they prove fatal says the charity's Dr Steven Cox.
The most common conditions causing sudden death is cardiomyopathy - a thickening or abnormal development of the heart muscles. There are four types of cardiomyopathy and the most common of which is hyper-trophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) a genetic defect which can be inherited from parents at child birth. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), arrhyth-mogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which is usually picked up before a cardiac arrest as patients experience palpitations, fatigue, breathlessness and blackouts.
Another type is myocarditis, when bacterial and viral infections such as flu, ear and chest infections get into the blood-stream and affect the heart. Though there often no warning signs for all these conditions, sometimes there may be symptoms like exercise related chest pains, breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness or fainting.
One good news is that this tragedy can be averted if the problem is detected. Cardiomyopathy can be managed with the use of beta blockers to slow the heart and treat palpitations. Those at risk of developing a lethal heart rhythm can be fitted with an internal defibrillator, which shocks the heart into a normal rhythm if needed. Pacemakers are also used to improve the heart's efficiency.
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