Heart Screening
The Heart Screening Program is provided to the Central Oregon community through generous funding from the Cardiovascular Services Department at St. Charles Health System. The Pediatric Heart Center of Central Oregon and Heart Center Cardiology also contribute time and resources to this program, which is provided to students free of charge. The program was initially offered only to high school athletes, but in 2008 was expanded to non-athletes and middle school students.
The purpose of this program is to raise awareness about heart defects and their recognition in young people, and to remember young people in our community who have died from a congenital heart problem. Through this program, we perform quarterly heart screenings for Central Oregon students.
The screening tests include an electrocardiogram (EKG), and a limited echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). Cholesterol screening is offered at a small additional cost. These tests focus on detection of some of the heart problems that can lead to sudden death in young people. These problems include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle), an abnormal enlargement of the aorta (the main blood vessel that leaves the heart), certain heart valve abnormalities, and abnormal electrical activity in the heart that could lead to arrhythmias. These problems are rare, and may easily be missed on a routine physical exam. Blood pressure, body mass index, and cholesterol screening were added to our expanded screening as part of our focus on preventive cardiac care.
To date, we have screened nearly 3000 student athletes. Most of those found to have significant heart abnormalities were able to successfully return to their normal life, including sports, after correction of their heart problem.
Please note that this screening is not a substitute for your child’s required sports physical, or for a complete cardiac evaluation if you or your dictor have a concern about a heart problem.
The purpose of this program is to raise awareness about heart defects and their recognition in young people, and to remember young people in our community who have died from a congenital heart problem. Through this program, we perform quarterly heart screenings for Central Oregon students.
The screening tests include an electrocardiogram (EKG), and a limited echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). Cholesterol screening is offered at a small additional cost. These tests focus on detection of some of the heart problems that can lead to sudden death in young people. These problems include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle), an abnormal enlargement of the aorta (the main blood vessel that leaves the heart), certain heart valve abnormalities, and abnormal electrical activity in the heart that could lead to arrhythmias. These problems are rare, and may easily be missed on a routine physical exam. Blood pressure, body mass index, and cholesterol screening were added to our expanded screening as part of our focus on preventive cardiac care.
To date, we have screened nearly 3000 student athletes. Most of those found to have significant heart abnormalities were able to successfully return to their normal life, including sports, after correction of their heart problem.
Please note that this screening is not a substitute for your child’s required sports physical, or for a complete cardiac evaluation if you or your dictor have a concern about a heart problem.