Michigan Athletics Association Includes Heart Screenings In New Initiative

http://athletictestingsolutions.com/2013/05/24/michigan-high-school-athletics-association-sets-new-standards-in-heart-health/

The Michigan High School Athletics Association, starting with the 2013-14 school year, is implementing stricter health tests to its athletes, and these tests will include heart screenings. In previous years, this wasn’t the case. The physical exam was simple, and much less thorough. But now the new examinations, outlined in a four page report, will better identify health issues. The report includes questions to be asked on family heart history, personal history of injury, and other important issues. However, they are not requiring an echocardiogram or EKG.

An EKG and echocardiogram would help save lives. They can detect irregularities, such as an enlarged heart, that otherwise wouldn’t be detected. Students who do not pass the heart health portion of the physical will be required to provide proof of an electrocardiogram and clearance from a doctor in order to participate in sports.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is estimated that 2,000 people under the age of 25 die every year due to SCA. The most common cause is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is a thickening of the heart muscle. With these heart screenings being implemented, they can catch any heart irregularities so that students may seek proper treatment.

If every state in the country implemented these types of health tests and exams, the number of people who die every year from SCA could be drastically reduced. The Dearborn School District in Michigan is even working with a local hospital to plan a heart health event for athletes in grades 7-12. This event will put the athletes through a series of tests to determine if there are heart defects that are sometimes missed in normal physicals.

Though EKGs and echocardiograms are not required with these physicals, the fact that schools are becoming more rigorous in their athletic evaluations is a step forward and will help immensely in raising heart health awareness in youths.