In May 2012, Cody Stephens, a Crosby High school football player, fell asleep on his dad's recliner and never woke up.
Doctors later discovered that Stephens, who planned to attend Tarleton State University on a football scholarship, had an enlarged heart.
According to a 2009 study published by the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death among student athletes.
On average, every 3 days in the United States a competitive athlete experiences a Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD).
Usually there are no advance signs or symptoms.
Laws & regulations requiring mandatory ECG assessments for athletes have been established in certain countries and are in process in other.
Screening Athletes with LevMed ECG Belts:
Prof. Naama Constantini, Director of Sport Medicine Center, Shaare Zedek Medical Center:
“We are doing a pre-participation examination to athletes of all ages. According to the Israeli law, every competing athlete has to go through an annual examination. The examination includes a questionnaire, a physical examination, and a 12-lead Rest ECG. By doing the Resting ECG we can find over 95% of the reasons for sudden cardiac deaths in athletes. These include arrhythmias, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and other cardiac issues. The advantage of using LevMed ECG Belt is that it is very easy to apply. We don’t have to put any stickers, we don’t have to shave the person, and we get very accurate printing of the ECG, and of the last couple of years, there is a belt especially designed for young children. It is very easy to apply. It takes about few seconds to put it on. And with this we save a lot of time. So when we see a lot of athletes it is really helpful to have a nice, friendly, ECG Belt.”
August 2016.
As part of the 2016 auditions of the Israeli Ballroom Dancing Fund (IBDF), over 60 BallRoom Dancers at the ages of 12-18 were screened for 12-lead Rest ECG in just a few hours using LevMed ECG Belt
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There is a simple way to diagnose most cardiac abnormalities.
12-lead ECG.
In some professions cardiac testing is also mandatory. FIFA and UEFA regulations mean that from August 2008, every player in the first squad at a football club that participates in International competitions must have a minimum of one electrocardiogram (ECG) test and one echocardiogram (ECHO) test in their personal medical records. The Premier League also now undertakes bi-annual cardiac testing for all professional players.
For the past 30 years in Italy, all athletes have undergone ECG) screening, with some data indicating fewer deaths during athletic activities associated with institution of the screening program.
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC, 2005) and International Olympic Committee (IOC, 2009) recommend cardiac screening with an ECG for any young person taking part in competitive sport.