Fatal Heart Conditions in Athletes

Fatal Heart Conditions in Athletes

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Statistics:

• Leading cause of death in young athletes
• 1 in 200,000 athletes per year are affected by a heart condition.
• 16-17 deaths per year in the United States.
• Risk increases with increasing level of competition
• Higher rate in college athletes: 1 in 50,000
• More prevalent in basketball and football
• Occurs two times more frequently in African Americans1

Athlete’s Heart Syndrome
Athletic heart syndrome is a heart condition that can occur in people who exercise for more than an hour a day, most days of the week. This condition leads to structural changes in the heart. The heart becomes extra large and thick causing Bradycardia, Cardiomegaly, and Cardiac hypertrophy2.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
It Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is a disease that causes the myocardium to become abnormally thick. It is the most common cause of sudden death in athletes and HCM often goes undetected. Symptoms of HCM may include1:

• Chest pain or pressure
• Shortness of breath  
• Fatigue
• Fainting
• Palpations
• Sudden death

Marfan Syndrome

Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes a condition in which your body's connective tissue is abnormal. It often affects the connective tissue of the heart and blood vessels, eyes, bones, lungs, and covering of the spinal cord. The most serious complications of Marfan syndrome involve the heart and blood vessels. Marfan syndrome can affect the aorta, the main blood vessel that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the body, and the aorta can stretch and grow weak. Signs and symptoms of Marfan syndrome include1:

• tall, thin build,
• Long appendages,
• Scoliosis,
• Flat feet,
• About 1 out of 5,000 Americans has Marfan Syndrome.  

Long QT Syndrome
Remove Indention Long QT Syndrome is a Inherited heart rhythm disorder. It causes fast, chaotic heartbeats. The rhythm may become so erratic that it causes sudden death.  Symptoms of Long QT Syndrome include

• Fainting
• Seizures
• Sudden death

Symptoms most often occur during exercise, emotional excitement, and sleeping1.

Ways To Screen For Heart Disease
An in depth family medical history is necessary, because most heart conditions are hereditary. An EKG can detect many of these heart problems. An echocardiogram can give a 3D view of the heart allowing a cardiologist to spot any visible heart conditions. An EKG cost about $150 but most insurances will cover 80-100 percent of the cost2.



Maron, B. (1995). Cardiac Disease in Young Trained Athletes. Retrieved May 23, 2016, from http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/91/5/1596.full

Ramnarace, C. (2011, March). 7 Ways to Protect Your Young Athlete From Sudden Cardiac Death. Retrieved May 23, 2016, from http://www.everydayhealth.com/heart-health/0308/ways-to-protect-your-young-athlete-from-sudden-cardiac-death.aspx