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Friday, December 9, 2011

FEW PHYSICIANS FOLLOW GUIDELINES FOR SCREENING YOUNG ATHLETES FOR HEART TROUBLE

The Los Angeles Times (11/14, Roan) "Booster Shots" blog reports that while "the deaths of high school athletes who collapse suddenly during practice or a game have led to new" American Heart Association (AHA) "guidelines for screening prep athletes for hidden heart problems before the start of a season," research presented at the AHA meeting "shows that the vast majority of doctors charged with such screenings don't follow the recommendations."

HealthDay (11/14, Mann) reports that researchers found that "less than half of physicians and only 6 percent of high school athletic directors in Washington state were aware of the life-saving guidelines -- potentially leaving many young athletes at risk." The association's "screening guidelines call for eight specific medical-history questions and four key elements in a physical exam, all designed to help doctors understand whether an athlete is at risk."

POSTED BY: Steven Almany M.D.

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