News Free Heart Check Ups for High School Athletes

Championship Hearts Foundation, Seton Heart Institute and Seton Highland Lakes Partner to Encourage Healthy Hearts

AUSTIN, Texas - (August 22, 2011) - In preparation for a new school year of athletic opportunities, Championship Hearts Foundation, Seton Heart Institute and Seton Highland Lakes Hospital will offer FREE heart screenings for student athletes ages 14-18, Sat., Aug 27. The screenings will take place 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Seton Burnet Healthcare Center, directly behind Seton Highland Lakes Hospital, 200 Country Road 340-A, Building 1, Burnet, Texas.

Active students who participate in athletics, cheerleading, marching band, drill team, or other strenuous sports are encouraged to get their hearts screened for possible deadly genetic heart conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young people.


"While hypertrophic cardiomyopathy usually doesn't impair physical activity, it may lead to a potentially fatal heart rhythm problem that could be exacerbated by activity on the playing field," said Michael Lenis, MD, FACC, cardiologist at Seton Heart Institute. "The goal of these screenings is to try to prevent fatal incidents that may be a result of an underlying heart condition."

The Championship Hearts screening includes a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and a limited two-dimensional echocardiogram (EHCO) (picture of the heart) to detect HCM. Both the ECG and ECHO are non-invasive and painless and, in general, are valued over $700. Results of the screening are immediate. The Championship Hearts screening model is endorsed by the Texas Chapter of the American College of Cardiology as a quality initiative.

This free event is made possible in part by the complementary use of facilities, technicians and equipment at Seton Highland Lakes Hospital, and the volunteer time of Seton Heart Institute physicians.

More than 12,000 students have been screened by Championship Hearts during the last decade, with approximately 5 percent of those having been referred for further cardiac testing.

Registration Details
Parents must give written permission for the heart screenings. They are welcomed and encouraged to accompany their students during the tests. Because space is limited, students must pre-register online at www.championshipheartsfoundation.org. For those without internet access who wish to sign up, please call the Foundation toll free at (888) 884-6945 for assistance. Check-in to complete registration and testing will take place in the clinic lobby 8 a.m. to 12p.m. Free parking is available in the adjacent parking lot.

Students must have a signed parental waiver in order to receive the heart screening. That waiver will be available at the event and is also available to print from the Championship Hearts website at: www.championshipheartsfoundation.org. There is no charge for the screening, however, a (tax deductible) contribution of $25 is appreciated to help defray some of the costs and also to support the work of the Foundation. For more information, visit the Foundation's website or call (512) 340-7320 or (888) 884-6945.