The sad stories are a constant every year, but it still hits hard when we hear it: a student suddenly collapses on the football or baseball field, seemingly out of nowhere. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, approximately 2,000 people under the age of 25 die from sudden cardiac arrest each year — and although it is rare, it doesn’t make it any less tragic when it happens.
Most shockingly, the majority of these deaths occur in children and teenagers without any prior indication of heart disease. These can usually be prevented with a simple heart screening known as an electrocardiogram (EKG), which can often detect the subtle signs of a heart rhythm disorder in kids.
How pediatric EKGs reveal heart abnormalities
Cardiologists with Wolfson Children’s C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Heart Institute strongly suggest electrocardiogram tests for children, as they can reveal certain heart conditions that could be life-threatening. An EKG is simple: Small electrode patches are placed on the chest, arms, and legs to record the heart’s electrical activity and check the pattern of one’s heartbeat. If an abnormality is detected or diagnosed, treatment can be started in order to reduce the risk of a cardiac event.
“An EKG is a quick, easy, and painless test that can make a huge difference in a child’s life,” says Rajesh Shenoy, MD, medical director of Pediatric Cardiology for Wolfson Children’s Terry Heart Institute. “The results of these tests allow us to diagnose many heart rhythm disorders and start treatment, reducing the risk of a child experiencing a cardiac episode.”
In many other countries, pediatric EKGs are a requirement for middle or high school students. Although student-athletes in the United States must get physicals for sports, most states don’t require having EKG tests done.
Not just for students who play sports
Doctors suggest that parents speak with their child’s pediatrician about available EKG options, even if their kid isn’t involved in sports.
Sheldon Hill, executive director of SafeBeat, a national initiative that provides affordable and high-quality preventive heart screenings, says that the majority of heart defects aren’t generally detected by annual wellness visits or sports physicals — but a simple, noninvasive heart screening with an EKG can help identify those who are most at risk.
A study published in Heart Rhythm found that simply adding an EKG to a child’s annual physical makes doctors six times more likely to detect a cardiovascular condition that could be associated with sudden cardiac arrest or death.
“With sudden cardiac arrest being the No. 1 cause of death in student-athletes and students on school campuses, it is imperative that preventive heart screenings are made available,” Hill adds. “We must be proactive in protecting our youth from this silent killer and not wait until they have symptoms because in many cases, the first symptom is the fatal collapse.”
Seeking a pediatric cardiologist?
The pediatric cardiology, cardiac intensive care, and heart surgery teams with Wolfson Children’s C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Heart Institute are equipped to treat a full range of pediatric cardiac conditions, from defects presented at birth to heart rhythm disorders. To learn more, call 904.202.8550.