Local Experts Urge EKG Heart Screenings To Save Lives

BOSTON (CBS) — Josh Thibodeau was a boy with a big smile, tons of energy, and the fun family nickname “Moose.” “Super sensitive, super sweet kid,” says his mom, Deb O’Brien-Thibodeau.  Five years ago Josh collapsed at soccer camp.  The Holden boy was just 12 years old. His dad, Ralph Thibodeau, remembers every moment of that horrible day. “Josh is laying there and I think my first recollection is I hear, ‘I don’t hear a heartbeat,'” he said. Josh died from an undiagnosed heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy or HCM.  Sudden cardiac death claims the lives of about 100 to 150 young athletes every year. “It’s so easy to detect these heart conditions: an EKG or an echocardiogram.  Which if Josh had those he could be with us,” said his mom. An EKG measures the electrical currents of the heart.  An echo is an ultrasound. Neither are routinely done on the majority of healthy kids.  The American Heart Association only recommends a 14-point questionnaire and check-up.  Josh Thibodeau (WBZ-TV) “That particular test, called the history and physical, it’s a bad test. We miss the kids who have the problem and we identify kids that  don’t have problem for lengthy cardiac work-ups,” said Dr. Gian Corrado, the head team physician at Northeastern University.  Dr. Corrado is out to prove that echocardiograms can save lives and should be adopted as the new standard of ca...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Local News Syndicated Local Dr. Mallika Marshall ekg Source Type: news