Sudden cardiac arrests are terrible tragedies that stun and sadden us all, especially when they are involved with young student-athletes. Questions of how the event happened can be overwhelming. Was it the coach’s fault? Are multiple practices per day necessary in the summer months? Is our family doctor not conducting a proper assessment? However, perhaps the question should be whether there were any unrecognized signs of a cardiac event.
Symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Spotting symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) could help school faculty, coaches, parents and even other students prevent the tragedy from occurring in the first place.
The 4 most prevalent signs of a SCA in order of importance were:
- Generalized Fatigue
- Lightheadedness
- Family history of sudden cardiac arrest before 50
- One or more occurrences of passing out or inexplicable seizure
Medical Study on Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Researchers at a number of U.S. medical clinics published results on this very topic in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. The objective of the study was to address warning symptoms for young adults who suffered (SCA). After receiving completed surveys from 87 victims’ families, the average age the adolescents who had SCAs was 16.
Parents a conversation with your physician & coach
So when students are about to have their school physical, make sure they understand the importance of involving their parents and speaking with their physician about precautions and signs to look for to help identify SCA before it occurs.