If you answered “yes” or “unsure” to one or more questions on this form, you may be wondering what to do next.
Step One – Contact your health care provider, normally your General Physician, Family Practitioner or Pediatrician and discuss the form. Talk about areas of risk you have identified and discuss having a full cardiac exam by a cardiac professional. Some physicians may be comfortable ordering cardiac testing and interpreting the results and some may not, therefore a referral may be needed to a cardiologist.
Step Two – Based upon your insurance provider, either ask your doctor for a referral for a complete cardiac evaluation by a cardiologist or seek the appointment on your own. This appointment should include basic cardiac testing based on the individual’s history but normally includes a consult with the cardiologist, an electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram (echo) and in some cases stress testing and additional cardiac imaging such as CT scans or cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI
Step Three – Communicate your history to the rest of your family so they can seek appropriate screening.
Things you should know about additional testing for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) risks:
1. Nearly all tests are painless, noninvasive and require no needles. 2. Tests are an evaluation of the heart at that moment in time and things may change over time, therefore you may need to repeat the testing on yourself or your child at intervals throughout life. 3. The knowledge of cardiac diseases that cause sudden cardiac arrest is evolving, and testing may change over time. The definition of normal or abnormal may also change. 4. If you and/or your loved one are found to be at risk for SCA, there are things you can do to help prevent SCA including: a. Taking medication b. Having an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implanted (a pacemaker-like device that can provide a lifesaving shock if you experience SCA) c. Making lifestyle modifications to reduce risk (for example, some may need to refrain from competitive sports)
Special note: If you answered “unsure” to questions about health history, discuss the details with complete candor with your health care provider. Cases of adoption, egg or sperm donation, or uncertain paternity are areas of specific concern as the health information that may have been available at the time of adoption, donation or last contact with the father may have changed and you may be unaware. We suggest that you err on the side of caution and seek baseline cardiac testing in these cases.
Call Sibley Heart Center Cardiology at 404-256-2593 or 800-542-2233 Email info@kidsheart.com
Visit www.choa.org/cardiology to print additional copies.
This form includes all items suggested in the American Heart Association Recommendations for Preparticipation Screening for Cardiovascular Abnormalities in Competitive Athletes– 2007 Update Circulation 2007:115
For more information, visit www.choa.org/cardiology, email info@kidsheart.com or call 404-256-2593 (800-542-2233 Updated 11.21.2011