47°
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
7 Day Forecast
Follow our weather team on social media

Heart screenings can save young athletes' lives

8 years 7 months 1 week ago Thursday, August 20 2015 Aug 20, 2015 August 20, 2015 5:07 PM August 20, 2015 in Health
Source: WBRZ
By: WBRZ Staff

BATON ROUGE - Local pediatrician Dr. Mindy Calandro dropped by the station Thursday to bring a quick reminder to parents about the continued importance of getting check-ups for kids ahead of yet another new school year.

The doctor says these physical examinations are especially important for kids that will be engaged in after-school sports and other activities.

She says all athletes need yearly pre-participation physical exams, pointing out that it is important for not only for the exam itself, but because yearly check-ups of this sort start the creation of a health record that will be important for the child as they grow into adulthood.

Dr. Calandro stresses the importance of the heart examination that is standard in almost all physicals. It is vital that parents be aware of any pre-existing cardiac conditions in their children before they enroll them in any sporting activity. Sudden cardiac death among young athletes is a startling and tragic reality that can be averted with proper medical attention. The "Save-A-Heart" program mentioned by Dr. Calandro during the attached video aims to bring this information to the forefront of parents' attention.

Check out the attached video to learn more about the importance of physicals for your kids and "Save-A-Heart" screening opportunities.

More News

Desktop News

Click to open Continuous News in a sidebar that updates in real-time.
Radar
7 Days