28 Apr New Training Package Could Help Doctors Cut Rates of Sudden Cardiac Death
Progress on curbing the leading killer of athletes―sudden cardiac death―by spotting heart problems early, has been slow. But the development of a series of online tutorials for sports and cardiology doctors looks set to reverse this trend.
The tutorials, which are free to any doctor around the globe, thanks to the backing of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) and FIFA, aim to teach physicians how to read heart monitor tracings (ECGs) and spot abnormalities linked to potentially fatal disorders.
Some inborn heart conditions are difficult to detect, because they progress silently, and are only diagnosed when intense exercise triggers a lethal heart rhythm―sudden cardiac arrest. According to the American Heart Association, over 7,000 people under the age of 18 die every year in the US of a sudden cardiac arrest. Studies also suggest the risk is three times higher in competitive athletes.