Free Heart Screening for Youth 12 to 24 years old

Heart Screen New York is offering a free heart
screening for any students, athletes, and other young adults age 12-24 on March 31, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Walt Whitman High School’s South Gym., 301
West Hills Road, Huntington Station, NY.  Pre-registration is required. To reserve your space and schedule an appointment time: phone (631) 754-1091 or email heartscreennewyork@gmail.com. 

Students from any school are welcome.  Pre Screening Packets with heart surveys are available at Walt Whitman High School or at http://www.la12.org.  The screenings usually take about 25 minutes.  The screen consists of completion of a Heart Health Survey, blood pressure, physical examination, and ECG. A follow-up on-site echocardiogram is conducted in cases with a positive finding on history, physical examination or ECG. All results are reviewed by cardiologists and physicians experienced in cardiac screening.

Several Long Island cardiologists will participate, including Dr. David Kavesteen, M.D. F.A.C.C., owner of Heart and Health P.L.L.C. in North Babylon and Middle Island.  “The recent deaths of several young athletes from heart
conditions have raised awareness of sudden cardiac death. While some athletes have warning symptoms, including chest pain, palpitations (irregular heartbeat), or lightheadedness with exercise; many do not,” according to Dr. Kavesteen. 

The Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation and
the Dominic A. Murray 21 Memorial Foundation have joined forces to create Heart Screen New York. In March 2000, 14 year-old Louis Acompora died when a lacrosse ball struck his chest. In October 2009, 17 year-old Dominic Murray died during an open gym basketball game. Both Louis and Dominic suffered a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA affects thousands of kids every year. SCA can happen at any time without warning, on the basketball court, the lacrosse field, in the classroom, even while sleeping.

Heart Screen New York organizes free cardiovascular screening for adults, young adults and adolescents. The goals of the screening are:

1. To detect cardiovascular conditions with the potential for sudden death in
the young.

2. To reduce sudden cardiac death through early detection and appropriate
medical interventions, activity modification, or withdrawal for athletic
participation if recommended by a physician.

3. To provide a unique training opportunity for medical students, residents,
fellows and practicing physicians to gain experience in cardiovascular screening
and ECG interpretation.

4. To raise awareness and educate schools and communities about sudden cardiac
arrest warning signs and symptoms, and the value of cardiac screening.

Here are some resources about sudden cardiac
arrest. Be sure to discuss any questions or concerns with your health care provider.

• Heart and Health PLLC, (631)482-1355 
  http://heartandhealth.com
• 
  The Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation  http://www.la12.org
• 
  Dominic A. Murray 21 Memorial Foundation, Inc.
  http://www.domheart21.org
• 
  Parent Heart Watch     http://parentheartwatch.org/HeartScreeningEvents.aspx
• 
  Nick of Time Foundation  http://www.nickoftimefoundation.org
• 
  Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association
• 
  National Institute of Health: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/scda
• 
  American College of Sports Medicine: http://www.acsm.org
• 
  American Heart Association, Long Island Region http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Affiliate/Plainview/NewYork/Home_UCM_FDA003_AffiliatePage.jsp