Printed from Lab Results for Life website (www.LabResultsforLife.org) on September 9, 2010

News

May 21, 2009

Protect Your Kids' Hearts: Summer Fun Can Trigger Genetic Disorder

Contacts:
Helen Pettay: helen.pettay@polidais.com; (910)795-1202
Ron Geigle: rongeigle@polidais.com; (571)435-0413

Before your kids are out the schoolroom door and off to the pool or baseball field this summer, take a few preventive steps to help protect their hearts.

Prevention may be as simple as making sure children eat nutritionally balanced meals, get plenty of exercise, stay away from cigarettes and have regular check-ups.

Be aware that for some children who have an inherited heart disorder known as Long QT Syndrome, research shows that typical summer activities can trigger sudden cardiac arrest. Genetic tests can identify Long QT Syndrome and aid physicians in managing the condition.

The most common form of Long QT is triggered by strenuous exercise, especially swimming.

The condition is often the cause of the tragic deaths of seemingly healthy young athletes who collapse on the playing field. More than 3,500 children and young adults die each year due to sudden cardiac arrest.

Fortunately, most deaths can be prevented if Long QT Syndrome is identified early and treated. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association and the American Clinical Laboratory Association's "Results for Life" Educational Campaign offer the following tips.

Test for Long QT Syndrome if your child has:
  • A family history of Long QT Syndrome or sudden, unexplained death of a family member before age 40. If one person in your family is identified with Long QT Syndrome, your entire family should be tested.
  • Fainting episodes during or just after physical activity.
  • Fainting as a result of excitement, distress or a sudden startle.
  • Consistent or unusual chest pain and/or shortness of breath during exercise.
A physician will test for Long QT Syndrome by doing an electrocardiogram (ECG), often followed by a genetic test.

"The genetic test can be an important component to diagnosing Long QT Syndrome. In most cases, doctors can't tell for certain if a patient has the genetic disorder by just doing a clinical examination," says Alan Mertz, president of the American Clinical Laboratory Association. "Research has shown that genetic testing will identify additional individuals with possible Long QT Syndrome, compared to a clinical diagnosis alone."

Medications known as beta-blockers help prevent sudden cardiac arrest in most people. Pacemakers or automatic defibrillators are used in others.

Parents who live with children who are vulnerable to sudden cardiac arrest should:
  • Learn CPR and make sure that lifeguards or coaches know CPR.
  • Make sure there is an automatic external defibrillator (AED) on-site at the playing field, pool, or wherever children exercise.
Chris Chiames, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association Executive Director, has Long QT Syndrome, as do his two daughters. He had the girls tested as toddlers. "As parents, we try to balance having fun with taking heart health precautions," he says. "Our kids never swim alone. Either my wife or I always accompany our children to the swimming pool. We make sure the lifeguard is trained in CPR and that there is an AED on site."

The American Clinical Laboratory Association is a non-profit group representing the nation's clinical reference laboratories. The group's educational campaign, Results for Life, reflects a collaboration of laboratory professionals, clinical labs and test makers focused on the value of laboratory medicine. For more information on the value of laboratory medicine, go to Results for Life: www.labresultsforlife.org.

The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association is the largest advocacy organization singularly dedicated to the prevention of sudden cardiac arrest.

For more information on sudden cardiac arrest, go to SCAA: www.suddencardiacarrest.org.

For a video on LQT Syndrome filmed by New Hampshire Public Television, go to: www.nhptv.org/outlook/sprogramdate.asp?prog_num_id=1613.

2010 Copyright   American Clinical Laboratory Association
1100 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 725 West, Washington, DC 20005   -   (P): 202-637-9466
Email: info@labresultsforlife.org   -   Terms and Conditions