Research Paper on:
Screening Athletes, Cardiac Death

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listed below. Citation styles constantly change, and these examples may not contain the most recent updates. Screening Athletes, Cardiac Death by  , October, 2012 -properly! Introduction My presentation today before the Baker County Independent School Board concerns a serious health prevention  concern in regards to the student athletes participating in sports programs in our schools. There is an abundance of empirically-proven research evidence that indicates that strenuous exercise can result in  ventricular arrhythmias that cause cardiac arrest when there is a undetected cardiovascular abnormality present (Morse and Funk, 2012). This occurs regularly among young athletes who appear to be in the  prime of health, resulting in sudden cardiac death (SCD). This loss of life is a senseless tragedy that can be avoided by implementing a county-wide policy that requires an electrocardiogram  (EKG) as part of the pre-participation exam for athletic participation. The following literature reviews indicates the validity of this proposal. Summary of Current Literature Sudden cardiac arrest is the  "leading cause of death" among young athletes (Drezner, et al, 2007, p. 143). Making EKG examination mandatory as part of pre-participation screening is a controversial issue due to issues  of cost-effectiveness and a high rate of false-positives (Casa, et al, 2012). Further complicating the issue, studies also indicate that SCD can result from other causes besides cardiac abnormalities, such  as electrolyte imbalances due to sudden weight loss (Diamond and Gregory, 2007). Nevertheless, the fact that student athletes continue to suffer SCD indicates that taking family histories pertaining to cardiac  arrest is insufficient as a screening strategy (Casa, et al, 2012). In a number of European countries, a 12-lead resting EKG is required before young athletes are allowed to participate