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SPORTS ZONE 1: Save An Athlete Program

It's the time of year when high school and college athletes are preparing for their yearly physicals for the upcoming school year. Unfortunately for most student athletes, a routine physical does not always show that they might be at risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD) until it strikes. Ensuring that an athlete has a sports screening physical with cardiac testing may help uncover conditions, such as high blood pressure and more, that could lead to SCD in student athletes.

Congenital cardiovascular conditions affect an estimated 600,000 to 1.5 million Americans--making them the most common causes of sudden cardiac death in people under age 30 (according to the Cleveland Clinic).

Through the new Save an Athlete program, TOPS (Team of Physicians for Students) and Philips are aiming to educate student athletes, their parents, healthcare providers and athletic officials about the importance of sports screening physicals with cardiac testing to prevent sudden cardiac deaths in high school and college athletes. They have launched a new website that provides a forum for parents, doctors, athletic directors and coaches to obtain more information on the benefits and need for sports screening physicals with cardiac testing, learn how family health history could indicate heart conditions, view a checklist to ensure student athletes remain safe and healthy, and discover ways to launch a screening event in their community.

Article courtesy of Medialink.com

Visit their website at www.medialink.com


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