Causes of sudden cardiac death in young athletes
research one of the known causes of Sudden Cardiac Death in younger athletes. There has been extensive research done on identifying the causes of sudden cardiac death with the goal of preventing any more unnecessary deaths in sports. You will select one of the common causes of sudden cardiac death among athletes in the United States from the list below. You will show your understanding of the condition through a student paper. The sections that will be included are general description, medical evaluation/treatment, and sports participation.
Causes of Sudden Cardiac Death
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Coronary artery anomalies
Myocarditis
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
Prolonged QT syndrome
Aortic rupture from Marfan syndrome
Premature coronary artery disease
Aortic stenosis
Mitral valve prolapse
Sickle cell trait
General Description
Describe the condition.
Note if the condition is anatomical or physiological in nature.
Explain the effects on the body when the condition is present.
Medical Evaluation/Treatment
Explain the assessments conducted to diagnose the condition.
Note any opposing viewpoints on proper diagnosis.
Describe any treatment or management plans associated with the condition.
Sports Participation
List the prevalence of the condition resulting in sudden cardiac death during sports participation.
Identify a specific case/example of the condition resulting in sudden cardiac death during sports participation.
Explain the risk associated with the condition and participating in exercise or sports participation.
Sample Solution
Causes of sudden cardiac death in young athletes
Cardiovascular diseases responsible for sudden unexpected death in highly conditioned athletes are largely related to the age of the patient. In most young competitive athletes (less than 35 years of age) sudden death is due to congenital cardiovascular disease. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common cause of such deaths, accounting for about half of the sudden deaths in young athletes. HCM is a complex type of heart disease that affects the heart muscle. It causes thickening of the heart muscle (especially the ventricles, or lower heart chambers), left ventricular stiffness, mitral valve changes and cellular changes. HCM reduces the functional capacity of an affected person, leading to a physical inability to participate in high-intensity sports.
