The Eric Paredes Save A Life Foundation and the Sweetwater Union High School District are holding a free heart screening for youth that could accurately detect abnormalities.
The free event will take place at Rancho Del Rey Middle School on Aug. 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m for youths 12-25 years old to detect heart abnormalities. The heart screenings take less than 60 minutes, and are non-invasive and painless, according to organizers
The heart screenings include a cardiac risk assessment, EKG, cardiologist consultation, and if indicated, a limited echocardiogram. International guidelines recommend screening every two years through the age of 25. Studies show EKGs more accurately detect abnormalities, given heart conditions often have unrecognized warning signs or risk factors.
Organizers say that standard well-child exams and sports physicals are not designed to identify undetected heart conditions that annually put thousands of youth at risk for sudden cardiac arrests.
According to the Eric Paredes Save a Life Foundation, sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death on school campuses and the leading cause of death among student-athletes.
For more information, registration and to make an appointment, visit https://buff.ly/3drPpNy
