Understanding Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Athletes

Young athletes appear to be the picture of health, strength, and energy. But sometimes, even the healthiest-looking young people can face a hidden danger: sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). An event where the heart suddenly stops beating, SCA can happen to anyone, even young athletes who seem perfectly healthy.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, approximately 2,000 people under the age of 25 die from sudden cardiac arrest in the U.S. every year - making it the leading cause of death in young athletes across the country, with one athlete dying every three days.
To dig deeper, why does this happen to young athletes?
Risk Factors of Sudden Cardiac Death In Young Athletes
A couple of significant risk factors might make a young athlete more likely to have a problem with the electrical signals in their heart, leading to sudden cardiac arrest.
Family History:
The athlete might have a family history of heart problems, certain heart conditions, or drug use. Family history could lead them to having a heart problem they were born with but may not know about. Thickened heart muscles and inherited blood vessel conditions from genetics could impact the heart’s electrical impulses.
Hard Hit To The Chest During Activity:
Injuries in contact sports, particularly in the chest area, may create a situation in which the athlete feels dizzy, experiencing shortness of breath and having an accelerated heartbeat. This condition, known as commotio cordis, happens when the chest blow occurs at a specific point in the heartbeat, causing the heart to stop.
If a young athlete has any warning signs, it’s essential to act.
Early detection couldn’t be more critical, so many doctors recommend that young athletes receive a check-up before they start playing sports. This check-up can potentially find heart problems before they become dangerous.
The Smart Heart Sports Coalition:
Making Sports Safer One Athlete At A Time
We gave you a statistic earlier on the number of people under 25 years old who die from sudden cardiac arrest. Here’s another that pertains specifically to those people who are athletes: The Mayo Clinic estimates that about 1 in 50,000 young athletes to 1 in 80,000 young athletes might experience sudden cardiac arrest each year.
Now, the ratio may not sound like a lot of students to you, but consider the devastation to a family, a school, and a community that that one young life lost causes. Then, consider that it may have been preventable with a plan and the right resources.
That’s why groups like the Smart Heart Sports Coalition are so important. An organization designed to make sports safer for young athletes, it’s critical to the Smart Heart Sports Coalition’s mission that if a young athlete’s heart stops, there’s immediate help nearby.
To address this challenge, the Coalition is pushing hard to have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) at all sporting events to help restart a heart that has stopped beating and potentially save a life.
Legislation To Protect Young Athletes
An important law that aims to prevent sudden cardiac death in young athletes called the Access to AEDs Act, is a step forward in making sports safer for young people.
The Access to AEDs Act does several important things:
Provides money to help schools buy AEDs:
By helping schools get AEDs, this law makes it more likely that help will be nearby if a young athlete’s heart stops during a game or practice.
Funding for AED training programs:
The law doesn’t just stop at providing AEDs. It ensures people know how to use them. The Act includes funding for training programs.
These programs teach coaches, teachers, and other school staff how to use AEDs and perform CPR in an emergency.
Establishes emergency action plans:
Another vital part of the Access to AEDs Act is encouraging schools to develop emergency action plans. These plans spell out precisely what to do if a young athlete has a cardiac emergency. Having a clear plan can save precious time when every second counts.
Supports efforts to educate students about sudden cardiac arrest:
This includes teaching them about warning signs and risk factors. By spreading this knowledge, the law helps young athletes take better care of their heart health.
While the Access to AEDs Act resembles progress and the Smart Heart Sports Coalition is working hard to ensure schools know about this law to take advantage of its help, the organization also knows there’s still more work to do.
That’s why it pushes for even more robust protections for young athletes in every state. To the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, it will be a beautiful day when, no matter where a young person plays sports, they’ll be in a heart-safe environment.
The Life-Saving Bundles Designed For Young Athletes
Equip your facility with an exclusive Smart Heart Sports Coalition Athletic AED Bundle designed to ensure comprehensive emergency response capabilities in sports environments. With shipping and handling included, these bundles offer advanced technology, vital accessories, and essential training for effective emergency response.
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Let’s work together to safeguard our young athletes and ensure that your school is equipped to handle any emergency. Contact us today or visit our store to get started!