Sudden Cardiac Death. Every parent’s nightmare is to get a phone call from a police officer or hospital that your kid was injured or worse. As training season nears, it is critical to have your athlete checked by a physician with knowledge of young athletes. Not every primary care physician is qualified to assess a young athlete. This is NOT merely a paperwork annoyance but can save your child’s life.

A pre-participation physical is a critical evaluation. It is the last chance to discover an underlying medical issue that could lead to injury or loss of life. Every year in the United States approximately 2-5 per 100,000 athletes have a cardiac event with strenuous exertion. The cause is not always known, but some very simple screening tools are mandatory. Structural heart abnormalities, electrical heart conduction abnormalities, and acquired heart abnormalities are the three most common causes of heart problems in athletes.

Every young athlete should have a complete history and physical exam including an ECG before participation.  If the ECG is abnormal a consultation with a cardiologist and/or an echocardiogram should be performed.  Several governing medical bodies do not routinely recommend ECG’s in part because they are not cost effective. In my opinion, I would not let my child participate in strenuous competitive athletics without having a complete history and physical including an ECG. Cardiology consultation should also be sought if there is any history of shortness of breath, chest pain, or dizziness with exertion.

A final note. Dehydration is dangerous for the heart. Check in with the coach to be sure he/she has a free hydration policy. That is, athletes are encouraged to drink anytime they want, not only at designated breaks. Hell-week for football players or any athlete should never include withholding hydration.

Jeffrey I. Barke, M.D.

Co-Founder PersonalCare Physicians of Newport Beach

Board Certified Family Physician

Newport Beach, CA