Find Out If Your Student Athlete is at Risk of Sudden Heart Failure!

DID YOU KNOW?
If defibrillation is administered within one minute of collapse, the survival rate for sudden heart failure goes up 90 percent. “Timing is key to survival. Waiting even 10 minutes to defibrillate drops the chances of survival to 10 percent,” says John Lynn Jefferies, MD.

I think many of us have heard young athletes dying from sudden heart failure and it just doesn't seem to make sense. How can someone so young, and in such great shape, have heart failure? Well, if you've ever wondered this, or are concerned about your own young athlete, you can participate in a Live Q and A with doctors, Jeffrey Towbin and John Lynn Jefferies, on April 9th from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST.  You won't even have to leave my blog to participate!  I will post the Live  Q and A, so you can come and get any questions you may have answered right here!

In the meantime, here are a few facts:
Top 5 risk factors for sudden heart failure in student athletes:
1. Family history of sudden death.
2. Fainting or family history of fainting.
3. Family history of arrhythmias or heart muscle disease.
4. Participation in sports (particularly sports that require a burst of activity like basketball, hockey and football).
5. Athlete has gone through puberty (an athlete’s body is stronger at this point and has power during the burst of activity).

Please RSVP, then come back next Tuesday night to participate!