Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Endorses Heart Screening For Student Athletes, Partners With HeartScreen America

27 Jun 2007: ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HeartScreen America (www.HeartScreenAmerica.com), a company seeking to prevent sudden cardiac arrest by providing heart screenings to young people, today announced it has been endorsed by the Wellness Department of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), an organization of 371 high schools, sponsoring athletic activities in 33 sports.

Through the use of seminars, training programs, and educational materials, the MIAA’s Wellness Program strives to help schools create and conduct activities that enhance or improve the well-being of every student. It will now encourage heart screening for all student athletes.

“Any occurrence of sudden cardiac arrest in young people is devastating and we recognize that some young athletes may be at particular risk,” says Mike Kane, Director of Student Services at MIAA. “We strongly support the heart screening program, and look forward to working with HeartScreen America, an organization that provides this valuable service.”

Established under the guidance of leading cardiologists and other physicians, HeartScreen America offers a heart screening program that may detect cardiac abnormalities that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. The company is emphasizing summer safety with youth sports and back-to-school screening programs, partnering with area nonprofits and businesses to offer affordable heart screenings in local communities.

“Whenever kids start activities, in summer camp or sports training for example, most people agree that a physical examination is appropriate. But a standard physical exam does not typically include an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) test for heart abnormalities. An ECG, simple and painless, can be quite effective in detecting many of the types of heart conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest in youngsters and young athletes,” says cardiologist Dr. Stephen Travers, Director of the Saints Medical Center Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in Lowell, MA and scientific advisor to HeartScreen America.

An essential part of the company’s heart screening program is an electrocardiogram, as well as a family and personal heart health questionnaire, blood pressure reading, and body mass index (BMI) calculation.

Michaela Gagne, the 2006 Miss Massachusetts, has also joined HeartScreen America as a spokesperson. Once an outstanding high school athlete hoping to play Division 1 soccer in college, Gagne’s athletic career was cut short at age 17 when she was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome, a disorder of the heart's electrical rhythm. Along with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, it is one of the causes of sudden death in young athletes, and it can be detected by an ECG.

Gagne, now 24, has a pacemaker with a defibrillator implanted in her chest, and can enjoy athletics once more. “If you’re diagnosed with a condition, you can be treated and live a happy, normal life again,” says Gagne. It’s a message she spread as a spokesperson for the American Heart Association, and will continue to champion as Chairperson of the Advocacy Board for HeartScreen America.

Organizations such as PTOs and recreation departments in Andover, MA, Beverly, MA, Tyngsborough, MA, York Beach, ME, and other New England towns have partnered with HeartScreen America to offer heart screening for children ages six and up.

About HeartScreen America
HeartScreen America is a large population, direct-to-consumer heart screening company which offers comprehensive heart screening programs that can identify the risks associated with cardiac abnormalities and heart disease. HeartScreen America’s affordable heart screening programs are a fraction of the cost for comparable services offered at outpatient facilities. HeartScreen America is screening hearts and saving lives.

Additional information on HeartScreen America can be found by logging onto www.heartscreenamerica.com.

Contact Information:
Anna Vining
HeartScreen America
978-474-8008 x116
press@heartscreenamerica.com

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