This year, Fair Grove Schools had ATS Heart Screenings come to check out athletes and anyone else who wanted their heart screened. The heart screenings were available by appointment and were non-invasive. These heart screenings show any abnormalities in the heart, which can lead to early diagnosis and prevention of serious problems. Stacy D had her son tested at an ATS Heart Screening event last year, and said, “…The cardiologists said these tests probably saved his life because he wouldn’t have made it through ROTC Military Physical Competitions scheduled next year having Wolff-Parkinson-White.  The money we spent on the tests from ATS is the best money we’ve ever spent and ever will spend! Thank you, thank you, thank you! We feel so lucky and blessed the school district had ATS to do the screening!”

One reason to get a heart screening as a student or a young person, is sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of sudden death in young athletes. A majority of athletes are symptom free prior to their SCA and, in fact, often appear to be in superb physical condition. Yet, the American Academy of Pediatrics estimates as many as 7,000 young adults under the age of 25 will die of SCA this year.  Intense training increases risk, and SCA in young athletes often occurs during practice sessions—a period when it is unlikely trained medical professionals will be on hand to intervene when a young athlete’s life is at risk, stated on the ATS website.

The ATS heart screening is composed of a blood pressure test, and an echo cardiogram. These tests help determine if your child has an electrical or structural abnormality with their heart that can be potentially life-threatening. The EKG measures the rhythm and electrical activity of the heart while the echo cardiogram (echo) provides a visual image of the heart, allowing us to see if the size, structure, and heart valves are developing and functioning properly, also noted on the ATS website.

So if you have a heart, and are between 8 and 25 years old, then you should seriously consider getting it screened. For only 30 minutes and a small fee, you could save your life. For more information please visit the ATS website at: https://www.athletictestingsolutions.com/