Sudden Death in Athletes
The first recorded incident of sudden death of an athlete was in 490 B.C., when a young
Greek messenger ran 26.2 miles from Marathon to Athens to deliver the news of the
Greek victory over the Persians. Then he collapsed and died.
Sudden Cardiac Death is often reported involving well-known athletes. Among those
who have suffered SCD are marathon runner Jim Fixx (1984), Olympic volleyball star
Flo Hyman (1986), NBA basketball star Hank Gathers (1990), NFL player Korey
Stringer with the Minnesota Vikings (2001), and Darryl Kile, all-star pitcher for the St.
Louis Cardianals (2002).
The sudden deaths of high school and college athletes are also frequently reported. In the
U.S., some 3,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 34 years die annually of SCD.
This is thought to be a very low estimate, because of the inconsistency of reporting.
Active young people have a greater chance of experiencing sudden cardiac death because
the diseases that may cause the condition happen earlier in life, and happen with exertion.
The abnormalities that cause sudden death in young people are different from the
acquired heart disease that causes heart attacks in middle-aged and older individuals.
The most common causes of sudden death in young people are abnormalities of the heart
and blood vessels that are present at birth. These abnormalities may not produce any
symptoms. The most common cause of Sudden Cardiac Death in young people is
thought to be a disease of the heart muscle called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that
occurs in one out of 500 people.
The abnormalities of the heart that cause Sudden Cardiac Death can not be detected by
routine athletic physicals. These heart abnormalities, however, can usually be identified
with an ultrasound exam. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound exam of the heart. A
screening echocardiogram that is done to screen for SCD is not a complete heart
ultrasound exam, but is an exam that looks only at those areas of the heart that are
thought to cause Sudden Cardiac Death.
Transmed, Inc., a mobile medical ultrasound company with offices in Watertown and
Sioux Falls, has been providing medical ultrasound exams for patients of rural hospitals
and clinics in the region for 25 years. Transmed is making its specialized ultrasound
equipment and expert staff available to all area students through its Strong Heart
Screening Program for the purpose of screening our young people for heart conditions
that have been shown to cause Sudden Cardiac Death. These screenings are quick,
painless, and inexpensive. The screenings do not replace annual athletic physicals, but
offer additional information about the heart. These screenings are intended for high
school and college age individuals and all active young adults to age 34. A screening
would benefit every active young person that plays organized sports, or does recreational
exercise such as jogging, cycling, skiing, or backyard basketball. Everyone can
participate. Scholarships are available.
Transmed will be conducting a screening event for all young adults in our area on
Thursday, March 24th at Freeman High School.
Parents, for more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call 605-941-2939,
or visit www.transmedultrasound.com.
Please visit the following websites to learn more about Sudden Death in Athletes:
http://www.hughston.com/hha/a_16_4_4.htm
http://www.suddendeathathletes.org/about_sdia.asp