Sudden death in young people: Heart problems often blamed
Should young people with a heart defect avoid physical activity?
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How common is sudden cardiac death in young people?
What can cause sudden cardiac death in young people?
How can parents, coaches and others know if a young person is at risk of sudden cardiac death?
Can sudden death in young people be prevented?
Who should be screened for sudden death risk factors?
Should young adults with a heart problem avoid or limit physical activity?
Who should be screened for sudden death risk factors?
There's debate in the medical community about screening young athletes in attempt to identify those at high risk of sudden death.
One Italian study found that mandatory heart checks of young people with an electrocardiogram (ECG) leads to lower rates of sudden cardiac death. But some worry this type of screening can suggest something is wrong when there is not a problem. This is called a false-positive result. Another worry is that screening would lead to overdiagnosis of conditions that may never cause harm.
One idea is to give routine ECGs to athletes before they play competitive sports to identify risk and prevent sudden cardiac death. But it's not clear that routine ECGs for athletes can prevent sudden cardiac death. However, such testing might help identify some who are at a higher risk.
If you have a family history or risk factors for conditions that cause sudden cardiac death, screening is typically recommended.
The American Heart Association does not recommend sudden cardiac death screening for young people who are not athletes and who don't have heart disease symptoms.
