Daily Mail
7 August 2012
The speed and stamina of the Olympic athletes makes them seem super-human.
However, alongside these celebrated athletes are others who never make the final hurdle – not because they falter and fail but because they die along the way.
Sudden cardiac death claims the lives of 100 athletes under the age of 35 each year in Ireland – that’s more lives than cervical cancer claims – yet we don’t screen for it. It can happen to anyone and is apparently what brought down the first-ever marathon runner back in 490BC.
Thankfully with increased public awareness people have become better informed. Both the GAA and the FAI have online screening tests which can be taken by anyone over ten, while the bigwigs at the Olympics and the European Cardiology Society recommend that every single athlete gets screened. There are two factors that will undoubtedly help save young people from sudden cardiac death.
The first is awareness of the condition and therefore knowing the signs to look out for. They will then know to shout for help if they experience palpitations, chest pains, shortness of breath or dizziness when exercising.
Anyone who has lost a relative under the age of 35 to sudden cardiac death (or even cot death) should be screened for the condition. There is thought to be as much as a 25 to 50 per cent crossover in inherited conditions if one family member has already succumbed.
Tests will involve a thorough look into the patient’s medical history, an examination, an ECG screening and probably an echocardiograph (a sonogram of the heart). A stress test will be carried out too.
Even then, the condition may not be evident or may have not yet emerged. The second and most powerful tool in tackling sudden cardiac death is being able to administer life support.
Most cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals, on pitches or in playing fields, and for every minute the person remains without assistance their chances of living to tell the tale diminish by ten per cent.
Most people don’t know what to do when confronted with someone having a cardiac arrest. It may be some time before the country can finance formal screening for everyone for this condition. However, were we all to become competent in CPR, it would go some way towards lowering the death tally.
CPR, which stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a basic life skill that could save your life or the life of a loved one. You may not be an athlete yourself but by knowing CPR you could earn yourself a hero’s medal too.