| March 25, 2009 Cardiac breakthrough put to the test
|
(NECN: Latoyia Edwards) - Researchers in Boston are putting a possible cardiac breakthrough to the test
Most people don't equate children running jumping and playing with sudden cardiac arrest-- but the heart rhythm society says each day 20 young people under the age of 25 die from sudden cardiac arrest while doing normal activities
Rosanne is a Massachusetts mother of six-her son Alex was diagnosed with a so-called harmless heart murmur at 9.
Alex went on to play a variety of sports-- the 17 year old did not show any signs of heart trauma-- the day he dropped on the track field.
Sudden cardiac arrest often strikes with no warning-- death is the first and only symptom in up to 80 percent of the victms.
Doctor Saffitz and other investigators at Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center have discovered a reliable test which can diagnose early a dangerous form of hereditary heart disease known as arrythmogenic right ventricular cardio-myporthy.
Doctor Saffitz's research appears in the March issue of the New England Journal of Medicine-- investigators are applying to the Food and Drug and Administration so they can offer this test to patients within the next year.
Heart Screen America based in Andover, Massachusetts provides electro cardio grams and other tests-- either at their facility or they bring technology into to schools and town halls. The results are processed by a cardiologist then shared with the customer's physician for
Play video
