In here article “Sudden Death: Proposed EKG Screening For Student Athletes Spurs Medical Debate,” Laura Beil focuses on the importance and controversial of student athletes receiving an electrocardiogram (EKG) prior to participating in sports activities. The EKG would check for a condition called cardiomyopathy, “Cardiomyopathy (KAR-de-o-mi-OP-ah-thee) refers to a disease of the heart muscles. There are many forms of cardiomyopathy, such as dilated cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Other forms are often referred to as unclassified types. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is the focus point in this article. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) “is a genetic condition, its main characteristic is thickening (hypertrophy) of the heart muscle.” It is estimated that in recent study that student athletes have nearly a four times higher rate of cardiac arrest than their peers (p.3). “Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy usually comes from a …show more content…
The occurrence of sudden death in student athletes is 1 and 200,000 per year (p.1). The numbers of student athletes are increasing each year with more student athletes striving to seek out sports scholarships to help with the rising cost of college tuition. It is up to scientist to figure out whether or not EKG can be a beneficial lifesaving indicative tool or would it just be a waste of time for these upcoming athletic stars. The benefits of the periodic EKG may be challenged by many, but there is one proven method on hand to help these players in the event of cardiac arrest the automatic defibrillator (AED). Calling for these mandatory by schools, sports venues, etc. and making everyone involved in these sporting events aware of the signs of cardiac arrest can help save