SCREENED HEART CONDITIONS: Below is a brief description of the heart conditions we screen for, representing some of the more common causes of why young adults might die suddenly.
♥ HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY: This is a problem of the heart muscle where the bottom chambers (or ventricles) are too thick. The risk of this condition has been reported to be as frequent as 1 in 500 individuals.
♥ DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY: This is a problem where the heart muscle is too large and does not squeeze as it is supposed to. The risk of this condition is estimated to be 1 in 2,000 individuals.
♥ AORTIC ROOT ANEURYSM: This is a problem of an abnormal enlargement of the main artery that arises from the heart and is responsible for delivering oxygenated blood to the body. The risk of this condition is estimated to be 1 in 10,000 individuals.
♥ LONG QT SYNDROME: This is a problem of the electricity of the heart that is caused by an issue with how the heart muscle handles essential elements like sodium and potassium. Children with this condition can suddenly develop unstable heart rhythms. The risk is as high as 1 in 5,000 individuals.
♥ WOLFF-PARKINSON-WHITE (WPW) SYNDROME: This is a problem of the electricity of the heart that is caused by an abnormal connection between the top and bottom pumping chambers. This condition can cause very fast heartbeats and rarely an unstable heart rhythm. The risk of this condition has been reported to be as frequent as 1 in 1,500 individuals.
SCREENING PROCESS ♥ A parental waiver must be signed in order for your teen to receive a heart screening. ♥ Teens should wear loose fitting clothing. ♥ Screening includes an electrocardiogram (ECG) and if needed a limited 2-D echocardiogram (ECHO). ♥ The screening process typically takes approximately 15 minutes per student. NOTE: AVERAGE WAIT TIME VARIES. ♥ Cardiologist will be onsite, so results will be immediate. ♥ Screenings are offered at no charge. For those choosing to make an optional donation, $25 offsets the cost to screen one student.
FOUNDATION INFORMATION ♥ The mission of AugustHeart is to provide free heart screenings to teenagers to identify selected heart abnormalities in an effort to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death. Contact info: 210-841-9207 or email at