PREVENTION THE BEST MEDICINE - TESTS SAVE LIVES

HEART SCREENING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF CAVE CREEK

 

(Phoenix, Arizona September 2, 2008)  In a matter of minutes, a simple ultrasound test can save a life.  These tests are not available during the average sports physical, but are available through the program offered by the Anthony Bates Foundation.  The leading cause of death to a young athlete in our country is heart related. In the past seven years Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) has claimed at least 20 young Arizonans under the age of 40.  The most notable were UofA Football recruit, McCollin Umeh, age 18 and Univ. of Hawaii football player from Paradise Valley School District’s Shadow Mountain High School, Mitch Farney, age 20.  The next Arizona Cardiac Screening Day, brought to you by the Anthony Bates Foundation (ABF), Parent Heart Watch (PHW) and their event sponsors, will support the cardiac screening tests done at Tatum Ranch Community Center on September 20, 2008.  Previous heart screenings organized by the Anthony Bates Foundation across the nation have resulted in the detection of heart abnormalities in over 10% of young people screened. 

On Saturday, September 20, 2008, starting at 11:00 am the Anthony Bates Foundation will offer echocardiogram (ultrasound) and electrocardiogram (EKG) tests to young people.  ABF has organized dozens of  Cardiac Screening Days in Arizona and across the nation, providing heart screening tests to students and the general public.   Pre-registration is recommended for all participants to assist in the flow of traffic and allow everyone the opportunity interested to have a screening.  For more details log onto www.AnthonyBates.org.   Event sponsors also include Boston Scientific, Vangent, Inc., and Siemens Medical Solutions. Although the screenings are offered FREE to the public, people are encouraged to donate $50 for students and $75 or more for adults.  Donations and sponsorships will assist ABF with cost and expense to manage the non-profit foundation, offer future screenings, and continue research projects.  These donations will directly benefit the Anthony Bates Foundation cardiac screening programs in Arizona.

According to the Heart Rhythm Society (www.hrsonline.org) each year more than 7,000 young people under 19 years of age die from undetected heart conditions or SCA.  Plus, the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Assoc. (www.4HCM.org) states that approximately 36% of the young people that will die from SCA succumb to the detectible condition of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM).  This is the same condition that killed basketball stars Hank Gathers and Reggie Lewis and recently the football greats like Damion Nash and Thomas Herrion.    Of the thousands of young people that die from SCA it is reported by Dr. Barry Maron, Minneapolis Heart Institute, only a few hundred of these young people are athletes.   More can be done to protect all kids from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.  Preventative tests are the norm in countries such as Italy, UK, and Japan.

Parent Heart Watch (PHW) is a state-by-state network of parents dedicated to reducing the often disastrous effects of SCA in children.  PHW is an organization founded by parents who have either lost a child to SCA or whose child is at known risk for SCA.  PHW grew from the friendship of Rachel Moyer, PA, Linette Derminer, OH, Sharon Bates, AZ, and Laura Friend, TX, all who lost their children to sudden cardiac arrest resulting from undiagnosed heart problems.  The members of PHW advocate for awareness and change - all with the goal of protecting children from SCA. For more information on Parent Heart Watch, visit www.parentheartwatch.org.

The Anthony Bates Foundation is non-profit organization dedicated to saving young lives through early detection of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), and many other heart irregularities in young people.  Through heart screenings and other ABF activities, volunteers continue to educate young people and their families nationally about heart health and HCM.  ABF has conducted heart screenings now in Washington, California, Arizona, Kansas, Texas and Nevada, providing more than 4,600 free or low cost echocardiograms, as well as teaching Community Cardiac Screening Training for people interested in providing these screening programs worldwide.  The echocardiogram tests average $1,500 per test across the country.  In providing these services, the ABF has made available approximately $6.6 million dollars of free / low cost medical services to those interested in their heart health and protection from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

 

WHO:              ANTHONY BATES FOUNDATION and PARENT HEART WATCH

WHAT:            CARDIAC SCREENING DAY

WHERE:          29811 N. TATUM BLVD., CAVE CREEK, AZ  85331      

WHEN:            SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2008   11:00 A.M. – 2:30 P.M.

WHY:              TO SCREEN FOR UNDETECTED HEART PROBLEMS