Everyday Health—March 13, 2013 Tighter screenings of young
athletes could have detected serious heart problems that killed
dozens of the them, according to new research presented at the
annual American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions in San
Francisco by the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation.
Approximately 110 athletes under the age of 21 die suddenly
every year while playing organized sports, according to the
National Athletic Trainers’ Association, despite various
screenings aimed at detecting health issues before they cause
problems on the field. The screenings missed important
cardiovascular abnormalities among athletes tracked in the
latest study, and researchers said that more rigorous screening
procedures could save lives in the future. Examining 2,588
sudden deaths in young athletes between 1980 and 2009, the
researchers found that 44 deaths were attributed to aortic
stenosis, aortic dissection, or aortic rupture. “The best thing
we can ask is if there is a family history of someone dyin