People across Newtownabbey are being encouraged to take a simple and quick £35 ECG test which could save lives.
Every week eight healthy young people die in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions. That is the message being delivered by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
CRY conducts regular screenings at its clinic located at the University of Ulster's Jordanstown campus – the next screenings are on September 19 and 20.
CRY Northern Ireland's John Lundy, whose son Aaron died from a heart condition in 1999 aged nineteen, is urging young people between the age of 14 and 35 years of age to be screened. Particularly, he says, if they are engaged in sport.
"The death of a young person is heartbreaking and devastating for any family," said John. "At CRY, we would encourage all families to have their children screened for any underlying heart conditions. Eight young people die every week in the UK and one in every three hundred apparently fit and healthy young people have an underlying heart condition. This really is a silent killer in our midst. We would encourage people to get in touch with the CRY clinic and arrange to be screened."
John added: "It is essential anyone with a condition knows about it. If they continue to participate in sport or take particular medication, for example, they could be putting their lives at risk.
They may not show any symptoms or warning signs."
Dr Steve Cox, Deputy Chief Executive of CRY explains: "There is a simple way to diagnose most of these abnormalities – this is by having an ECG (electrocardiogram) test. The test is quick and painless. If necessary a further echocardiogram (ultrasound scan of the heart) can be taken to provide further clarity."
Dr Cox added: "Screening needs to be extended to all young people. Everyone is potentially at risk from the condition and the only accurate means of diagnosis is through an electrocardiogram (ECG). Our screening clinics are a step in the right direction and will help raise the profile of these conditions."
CRY's screening programme is overseen by Dr Sanjay Sharma, Director of Heart Muscle Disease at Kings College Hospital and the London Marathon Doctor. Dr Sharma is a leading expert in cardiac conditions in young people and a heart rhythm specialist. The cost the testing is £35. Other screening options are available through CRY's mobile screening programme and other supporting clinics.
Alison Cox, Chief Executive at CRY said: "Although it is essential to look out for the warning signs, our experience is that so often there are no symptoms prior to death and the only way the condition could have been detected would have been if cardiac tests were conducted."
