AMS provides Cardiac Sports Screening to schools, clubs & organisations involved in sport.
Our Cardiac Sports Screening Service:
Personal & family history questionnaire
This questionnaire is designed to find out if you have a family history of cardiac disease. It will also help us identify any symptoms that may be of concern.
Physical Examination
- A thorough clinical examination will be performed by Heartaid’s Doctor paying particular attention to:
- Family history of sudden cardiac death and any symptoms that could lead to concern
- Waist Circumference assesses the amount of fat in the abdominal region
- Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height & weight that applies to adult men & women.
- Blood Pressure Recording. This shows the amount of work your body has to do to pump blood around the body.
- Listening to the heart for murmurs / irregular heart rhythm.
- Radial & Femoral Pulses
- Stigmata of Marfans syndrome
12 Lead Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An electrocardiogram is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. It gives information in relation to some of the common inherited heart defects. It can provide information on heart muscle function. The effects of high blood pressure can be seen. The patient is connected to a recording device by a series of fine cables which are attached to the chest wall by sticky electrodes. The test takes approx. 5 minutes & is performed by a Medical Professional.
The physical examination & health questionnaire is carried out by a medical doctor. The results of the testing are reviewed & reported by our Consultant Cardiologist.
The results of the test will be sent back to you within 10 working days.
Our mobile screening service enables testing to be carried out at a location of your choice. We welcome the opportunity to build a relationship with your school, club or organisation.
This would involve screening for all your members & providing on going support giving you peace of mind that any cardiovascular concerns are responded to quickly & pro-actively.
Also we feel it is important that screening is available to you at an affordable price.
Echocardiogram
AMS can help facilitate and fast track the booking of an Echocardiogram if required at designated cardiology centres across Ireland.
An Echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. The echocardiogram can help detect or rule out what was detected during your initial screening. Echocardiography has become routinely used in the diagnosis, management and follow up of patients with any suspected or known heart disease. It can provide a wealth of helpful information including the size and shape of the heart, pumping capacity and the location and extent of any tissue damage. An echocardiogram is a painless non-invasive test that takes 20-30 minutes.
Why Cardiac Screening?
- Up to 100 young people die each year in Ireland from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS)
- 1 in 300 people may have a cardiac abnormality
- The national register recently reported that the incidents of SADS are higher in Ireland than many other European countries.
- In Italy cardiac screening is mandatory for those involved in competitive sport for the past 25 years. They have reduced the incidents of SADS by 89%.
- The GAA’s Medical Scientific and Welfare Committee recommend cardiac screening for all players over the age of 14 years
- The European Society of Cardiology & the International Olympic Committee recommends cardiac screening.
- AMS’s heartaid service is based on the recommendations of the above named organisations.
What Causes SCA and SCD
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is often asymmetrical, meaning one part of the heart is thicker than the other parts. The condition is usually passed down through families (inherited). It is believed to be a result of several problems (defects) with the genes that control heart muscle growth.
Younger people are likely to have a more severe form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. However, the condition is seen in people of all ages. HOCM is the leading cause of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) in people involved in sport.
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is probably the second most common cause of unexpected Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. The incidence of this condition is now thought to be higher than previously believed, due to the availability of better diagnostic techniques and general awareness of the disorder among cardiologists.
Long QT Syndrome:LQTS is an inherited condition. It is a disturbance of the heart’s electrical system, which causes heart rhythm problems. A person with LQTS is prone to fainting spells, dizziness, palpitations and even sudden adulth death. These symptoms are caused by a very fast heart rhythm called Torsade de Pointes. Symptoms happen suddenly and often without warning. If you have LQTS it is important that you take your medication and follow your cardiologist’s instructions. It is also very important to have family members regularly checked for LQTS by a doctor, even if they don’t have any symptoms. Sometimes the gene carrying LQTS can be identified in a family, in which case identifying members with LQTS becomes much easier.
Arrythmia: An irregular heartbeat is an arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia). Heart rates can also be irregular. A normal heart rate is 50 to 100 beats per minute. Arrhythmias and abnormal heart rates don’t necessarily occur together. Arrhythmias can occur with a normal heart rate, or with heart rates that are slow (called bradyarrhythmias — less than 60 beats per minute). Arrhythmias can also occur with rapid heart rates (called tachyarrhythmias — faster than 100 beats per minute).
Wolff- Parkinson-White Syndrome: Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a condition characterized by abnormal electrical pathways in the heart that cause a disruption of the heart’s normal rhythm (arrhythmia).
The heartbeat is controlled by electrical signals that move through the heart in a highly coordinated way. A specialized cluster of cells called the atrioventricular node conducts electrical impulses from the heart’s upper chambers (the atria) to the lower chambers (the ventricles). Impulses move through the atrioventricular node during each heartbeat, stimulating the ventricles to contract slightly later than the atria.
Other:
Diseases of the heart valves
Electrocution, viral infection (Myocarditis), blow to the chest & adverse reaction to drugs (legal & illegal)
Testimonials
I availed of Heartaid’s cardiac screening service. I found it to be an excellent and comprehensive service. I would be happy to recommend Heartaid to any sporting organisation or club interested in getting their players checked out’
James Coughlan, Munster Rugby
Heartaid’s cardiac screening team were very professional, courteous and efficient to deal with. The online booking system was great as it allowed all members to book appointments online. I would be happy to recommend Heartaid & its service to any sports club or organisation in Ireland’
Mike O’Regan, Secretary, Ballinora GAA Club
