MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As Americans look to keep
their fitness resolutions and increase their physical activity, Dr. Bing Liem,
cardiologist and electrophysiologist at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View,
Calif., is hoping to raise awareness of a critical but rare heart condition:
congenital malformations of the heart or vascular system, which is to blame for
the majority of sudden cardiac deaths in athletes under the age of 40.
“The fact that many athletes and
their parents aren’t cognizant of potential warning signs speaks to the
importance of raising awareness of this condition.”
“It’s always heart-wrenching to hear news of a young athlete, at
the zenith of fitness, dying suddenly on the sports field,” said Dr. Liem, who
estimates that up to one in 500 people have inherited heart disease that may
predispose them to sudden death. “The fact that many athletes and their parents
aren’t cognizant of potential warning signs speaks to the importance of raising
awareness of this condition.”
Raise Awareness, Save a Life
According to Dr. Liem, there are seven top warning signs that
indicate a patient may be at risk for sudden death from cardiac arrest and
should see a doctor for screening:
1. Family history of sudden premature death: Patients with a
family member or relative who died suddenly of cardiac arrest under the age of
40 have an increased chance of also carrying the defective genes that cause
congenital malformations of the heart.
2. History of heart murmur: Frequent heart murmurs may indicate
a possible heart muscle abnormality or damaged and overworked heart valve.
3. History of fainting or near-fainting: Fainting (syncope)
or nearly fainting (pre-syncope) at any time could be due to the heart’s
impaired ability to pump blood.
4. History of palpitations: The patient experiences noticeable
heartbeats that are fast or irregular.
5. Feeling of discomfort in the chest during exertion: When active, the
patient feels pressure, pain or discomfort in the chest, indicating a less than
healthy heart.
6. Shortness of breath with exertion: The patient is
unduly winded by physical activities, indicating also a less than healthy
heart.
7. Light-headedness with or without exertion: The patient feels
dizzy or faint during physical activity, which can be caused by structural or
electrical abnormality in the heart.
Screening Options
If at risk, Dr. Liem recommends a simple screening process to
determine risk. The screening involves discussing family history of cardiac
arrest, having a cardiologist administer a focused cardiac examination and
obtaining an EKG.
“These basic steps can provide a good insight into the young
athlete’s heart condition. If any of these assessments raises concern, further
tests for the heart will be recommended,” said Dr. Liem, who noted that he is also
using newly available genetic tests offered at El Camino Hospital’s Genomic Medicine Institute to determine if
patients are carriers of the defective genes that cause congenital
malformations of the heart. If diagnosed, patients can use defibrillators and
curtail their athleticism to manage the disease, according to Dr. Liem.
Cardiac screening tests are not a mandatory requirement in
routine physical exams. In an effort to raise awareness of the condition and
provide a potentially lifesaving service, El Camino Hospital has offered a
series of free cardiac screening tests to young athletes in the communities of
Los Gatos and Mountain View, California. For more information about Dr. Liem’s
next free screening session, click here or go to El Camino Hospital’s Heart and
Vascular Institute event page to see a full list of activities
throughout the month.