BACK TO SAMPLES
by Roxanne Martinez
Just as tragic as the recent death of Texas A&M defensive end Brandon Fails, the student athletes' deaths came as a surprise because their deaths were not a result of a traumatic blow or injury. Their young heart just suddenly stopped.
Both Taylor and Prince died of heart-related conditions. And they are not the only ones. An estimated 200 young victims die suddenly on athletic fields across the nation each year. Heart disease is the leading cause of sudden death in health athletes, according to a study by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
"One of the most common causes of sudden cardiac death is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or an enlargement of the heart that causes different electrical responses with exercise," says Dr. Alan Stockard, director of sports medicine in the department of family medicine at UNT Health Science Center.
A study by the American Heart Association revealed that a cardiac condition mixed with the intensity of physical activity results in the cut-off of blood supply to the heart tissue, and causes fatal cardiac arrest within six hours of an evidently sound state.
Since the condition is not always detected during a typical physical examination, a physician must look for the heart condition if an athlete has a family history of heart attack under the age of 50, according to Stockard. Black athletes are at the highest risk for the heart condition, he says.
While this type of sudden death does not occur frequently in high school and college athletes, their deaths often generate enough media attention to scare most parents.
"Parents should be aware of the symptoms and warning signs of the heart condition," Stockard says.
According to the American Heart Association, symptoms of heart disease include:
*Chest pain or discomfort
*Tightness in the chest and jaw and/or nausea during physical exertion
*Sudden shortness of breath after physical activity
*Lightheadedness or breaking out in a cold sweat for no apparent reason
Three out four total student athlete deaths a year ago were heart-related, according to the University Interscholastic League (UIL), the organization that oversees extracurricular academic and athletic competitions among Texas public schools. The UIL's current policy on pre-screening of student athletes includes mandated physical examinations upon entering the 7th, 9th and 11th grade, and completion of a medical history form, says Kim Rogers, UIL director of public relations.
"If a student athlete checks yes to any question on the medical history form, an additional examination is required," Rogers says.
The UIL's medical advisory committee revised the medical history from in 2001, after several heart-related deaths. The revised form is more detailed that the old UIL forms and asks the athlete if they have ever passed out or had chest pains during or after exercise. The revised form is also now required, whereas previously schools could opt out of using the UIL medical history form or could use one similar to it.
The sudden death of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile this past summer underscored the need for aggressive cardiac screening among athletes who have a family history of premature heart disease. However, most high schools cannot afford to mandate an echocardiogram-a procedure that costs between $500 and $1,000 for a full view of the heart-for each athlete. There were 750,091 varsity athletes participating in UIL activities this past school year. Even if the UIL required the costly tests for every athlete, they would find the rare condition in less than 1 percent of that population.
A recent study suggested that other ways to reduce the chances of sudden cardiac death. This includes:
*Use caution when students issue complaints of the warning signs.
*Encourage screening if an athlete shows a family history of heart disease.
*Discourage smoking and chewing tobacco. Nicotine forces the heart to work harder.
*Prohibit the use of performance enhancers. Caffeine and ephedrine aggravate heart problems.
*Discourage high protein diets before and during training or competition.
*Encourage proper hydration to prevent salt imbalances that elevate heart rate and blood pressure.
In addition, some schools have recently purchased or are in the process of purchasing an automated external defibrillator (AED) especially for sports facilities and events. An AED is a device that automatically analyzes a heart rhythm and advises a rescuer when to deliver a shock.
Alan Winter, American Heart Association Operation Heartbeat chairman says the American Heart Association recommends having an AED available at every area sports facility.
"If an athlete experiences heart complications while playing sports, an AED may help save the athlete's life," Winter says.
