Feb. 3-Hurley Medical Center is offering FREE Teen Heart Health Checks for all mid-Michigan students, ages 13 through 19. This one-of-a-kind, potentially life-saving program offers an in-depth heart screening that includes a medical history, blood pressure check and an ECG. Echocardiograms will also be provided, if needed. Hurley Medical Center is the only Genesee County hospital offering such a screening.

Teen Health Check Screening Saturday, February 11, 9am-3:30pm, Swartz Creek High School

The screening looks for evidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a serious condition that can cause sudden cardiac death in young athletes as well as in students engaging in physical activity or exercise.  This very special event takes place Saturday, February 11, 2012, 9am-3:30pm in Swartz Creek High School Gymnasium, 1 Dragon Drive, Swartz Creek, MI 48473. Organizers expect to screen more than 300 teens at the screening event.

30 minutes could save a teenager's life

“The screening takes about 30 minutes,” says Dr. Jim Weber, ER Physician on staff at Hurley. “Those 30 minutes may save a student’s life or provide peace of mind for parents concerned about their child’s risk of sudden cardiac death and premature hypertension." 

"This Hurley Teen Health Check could save a teenager’s life,” adds Dr. Brian Nolan, Director, Clinical Pediatrics at Hurley Medical Center.

Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of death in young athletes

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the single most common cause of death among U.S. athletes. Nearly 4,000 of these deaths are among young people, and 1 in 200,000 high school athletes will die suddenly, most without any prior symptoms. In addition, male athletes are 10 times more likely to die suddenly as a result of HCM.

Registration for the February 11 Teen Screening event is FULL. We are presently scheduling our next screening event, so please stay posted.