CRY offers subsidised ECG and Echocardiogram screening to all young people between the ages of 14 & 35. Systematic screening programmes are needed to establish the prevalence of cardiac conditions in the young. The aim of a screening programme is to detect an underlying cardiac condition.
Since many cases of Sudden Death Syndrome are preventable, if heart conditions are detected and treated, lives can be saved. For example in Italy, where screening is mandatory for all young people engaged in organised sport, the incidence of young sudden cardiac death has been reduced by 89% (Corrado et al, 2006).
Of the 600 young sudden cardiac deaths that occur each year, 80% are in people with absolutely no prior symptoms. Identification prior to death is only possible with cardiac screening. Through our screening services, we have discovered that 1 in 300 young people screened are identified as carrying a serious cardiac condition. The results have also shown that 1 in 100 screened will have a less serious cardiac condition that could cause health problems in later life.
Screening with an ECG (Electrocardiogram) is aimed at identifying people with conditions such as cardiomyopathies or electrical faults of the heart. An ECG records the natural electrical activity of a person’s heart. The heart produces electrical impulses which cause the heart to contract. An ECG machine is able to detect these rhythms and therefore tell if there is a problem with the heart. Heart screening is also about building our understanding of these conditions as every person we test contributes towards more efficient diagnoses in the future.
We offer a unique service to the public as CRY is the only charity offering proactive cardiac testing to young people. Under NHS guidelines, a close family member will have to have been identified with a genetic condition or to have already died of a suspected cardiac condition before other immediate family members become eligible to have their heart screened. Our screening programme eliminates the requirement of an initial tragic loss of a young life to trigger investigations under the NHS.
Visit www.testmyheart.org.uk for more information about screening.
Timeline – Ongoing
Cost – Contact CRY for more information on cost or to arrange a private screening at [email protected]
Help us fund projects like this. Your donation helps CRY’s work to save young lives and support families affected by young sudden cardiac death.
To help fund or to find out more information about this project or any other of our projects, please contact [email protected].
Visit www.testmyheart.org.uk for more information about screening.
