Athletes and Heart Risk
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Comment| Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 | Emily Halevy | CWK Producer |
“If I had been able to see that with Shai, we would’ve been able to pick up that she had a problem. I would have pulled her and then I would have had her checked out thoroughly by the cardiologist, by the doctors, until they told me everything was fine.”
– Nicolette Owens, mother
Once every three days, somewhere in the U.S., a teenage athlete dies of cardiac arrest. That’s 110 athletes a year. Their deaths are sudden and always tragic. But are there any signs or symptoms that could warn a parent that a child may be at risk?
Shai Owens had just finished a 3-mile cross-country race. She checked her time, got some water.
“And then as she sat down, she just sort of sat down and they said the next thing they knew she just kind of slumped over,” says Nicolette Owens, Shai’s mother.
“Her eyes were just gone. I couldn’t see in her eyes anymore and that’s when it just sort of hit us,” says Alfred, Shai’s friend.
“And that was it; it was quick and quiet,” says her mother.
Shai was only 16 years old.
“That was my heart, that was my child, my first child, and it devastates you,” says Owens.
A faulty heart valve was to blame, one that could have been detected with an electrocardiogram (EKG). But how do you know if your athlete needs an EKG? Experts say these are the warning signs: a heart murmur, high blood pressure, unexplained fainting, light-headedness or fatigue and most importantly...
“If there’s been a history in your family of people dying prematurely or at an early age, then I think it is a great idea [to have an EKG] for peace of mind,” says Dr. Angel Leon, M.D., cardiologist.
Shai’s heart could have been surgically repaired if they had known.
“If I had been able to see that with Shai, we would’ve been able to pick up that she had a problem. I would have pulled her and then I would have had her checked out thoroughly by the cardiologist, by the doctors, until they told me everything was fine,” says Owens.
Check with your health insurance provider to see if an EKG is covered for your teenage athlete, or what the out-of-pocket expenses would be.
Tips for Parents
- Proper nutrition is critical for both good health and optimal sports performance. For child athletes, an adequate diet is critical because nutritional needs are increased by both training and the growth process. (American Academy of Pediatrics, AAP)
- Child athletes may be more at risk for heat-related injuries in hot, humid conditions. It is particularly critical that coaches, parents and young athletes are aware of signs of heat injury. Be aware that limiting sports play and training in hot, humid conditions and ensuring adequate fluid intake can prevent heat injury. (AAP)
- Pediatricians should work with parents to ensure that the child athlete is being coached by persons who are knowledgeable about proper training techniques, equipment and the unique physical, physiological and emotional characteristics of young competitors. (AAP)
- Child athletes involved in intense training should be monitored regularly by a pediatrician. Attention should be focused on serial measurements of body composition, weight and stature; cardiovascular findings; sexual maturation; and evidence of emotional stress. The pediatrician should be alert for signs and symptoms of overtraining, including decline in performance, weight loss, anorexia, and sleep disturbances. (AAP)
- The intensely trained, specialized child athlete needs ongoing assessment of nutritional intake, with particular attention to total calories, a balanced diet and intake of iron and calcium. (AAP)
- The child athlete, family and coach should be educated by the pediatrician about the risks of heat injury and strategies for prevention. (AAP)
References
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
