BEING supremely fit and healthy may flatter to deceive a deadly, undiagnosed condition.

That is the warning from parents and health groups pushing for more tests for young athletes.

Stats show that every week in the UK, 12 apparently fit and healthy young people, under the age of 35, die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition.

Reporter, James Cox, investigates the hidden health risks of super fit.

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IT was only a mother’s intuition that detected a potentially fatal heart defect in a young star athlete.

Joe Patterson, 15, is one of Essex’s top long distance runners in the under-17s category and competes for Colchester and Tendring Athletics Club (CAT).

He has been running competitively for two years and trains vigorously for distances ranging from 400 to 3,000 metres, just shy of two miles.

Whilst his fitness and athleticism has never been in question, it belied a problem with his heart which would not have been found had his mum, Jacqui Patterson-McGrath, not pestered him to get a check up.

Joe, who lives with his family in Wivenhoe, was diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome (WPW), effectively an extra electrical pathway in the heart which, combined with other factors, can be deadly if untreated.

Now she is encouraging other parents and fitness clubs to get their sporty children checked.

“I had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right with Joe,” she says.

“No one wants to hear their child has a heart condition but what’s the alternative? You hear about sudden death in sportsmen more and more, marathon runners dropping down on the finish line. Then we had Fabrice Muamba, a Premier League footballer, who had to be revived on the pitch because his condition wasn’t picked up.

“Joe’s always training hard so his heart is under stress so I pushed for him to get checked.”

Jacqui made sure Joe received a thorough check up and when pediatric doctors ran an ECG scan they detected a delta wave suggesting WPW.

The condition can cause chest pains, palpitations, racing pulse, and difficulty breathing but Joe had experienced little or no signs.

“His condition was asymptomatic,” explains Jacqui.

“We didn’t know anything about this. He had the off palpitation but they always went quickly and we put the down to over exertion, easily missed. Know we know they would have become a lot more severe in later life.”

Joe is set to have the issue corrected via a catheter ablation, a procedure with a 95 per cent success rate and only minor intrusive surgery required.

He could be up and training again within a matter of weeks. Doctors first need to locate the extra pathway using electrodes to make sure they can go ahead and operate.

“Even if they can’t do the procedure we are in a better position for having a diagnosis,” says Jacqui.

“Even if you are worried about it disrupting your training get a check up. The alternative could be deadly.

“Things go wrong in human bodies, but if you’re heart goes - that’s it.

“In Europe they have checks in place and we should have the same. There’s only so much a doctor can tell you with a stethoscope.”

THE CHARITY

A SHOCKING new campaign highlights the devastation of an undiagnosed heart condition.

Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) has unveiled a new ad to demonstrate the sudden, spontaneous and shocking nature of cardiac death in young people – especially in those involved in “grass roots” sports.

It has released a film showing a teenage rugby player collapsing on the field in front of team-mates and supporters.

Officially launched on Wednesday at a prestigious event at the House of Commons the new campaign sets out to emphasize the importance of cardiac screening amongst young people and the need for unexplained symptoms (such as fainting, blackouts and palpitations) to be explored appropriately and not dismissed.

Around 12 young people in the UK are affected each year and in around 80 to 90 per cent of cases, there were no signs, symptoms or warnings, underlining the vital role of screening.

CRY’s national screening programme tests around 15,000 young people every year.

Dr Steven Cox, CRY’s director of screening explains: “The death of a young person is heart-breaking and devastating for any family. It is therefore essential that anyone with a potentially fatal heart condition knows about it and, if necessary, takes the appropriate steps to avoid putting their life at risk. This could include medical or surgical treatment or caution when taking part in some sports or when taking specific medications.”

An ECG (electrocardiogram) test is a simple way to identify most of these abnormalities. The test is quick and painless. If necessary a further echocardiogram (ultrasound scan of the heart) can be taken to provide further clarity.

Dr Cox adds: “At CRY, we believe screening needs to be extended to all young people. Although screening will not identify all those at risk, in Italy, where screening is mandatory for all young people engaged in organised sport, the incidence of young sudden cardiac death has been reduced by around 90 per cent.” Competing in sport does not cause sudden cardiac death but intensive physical activity - particularly endurance sports such as rowing, rugby, football and long distance running - can exacerbate an underlying condition.

For more information visit www.c-r-y.org.uk