While sudden cardiac arrest is often associated with older age groups, there is a rising incidence of undiagnosed teenagers being affected by the fatal disease as well.
According to Dr. Abraham Jacob, a cardiologist at The Heart Hospital Baylor in Plano, Texas, even though the teen death rate from sudden cardiac arrest is only 1 per 100,000, the actual rates are likely higher because many teens may have undiagnosed problems that could be prevented if proper testing took place.
"I think if we can prevent one death, that’’s great," Jacob said, according to the Dallas Morning News. "Even if we screen 1,000 kids and find one child out of that, I think we”ve done an incredible service to that family, the community and everyone involved."
According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is usually caused when the heart’’s electrical system malfunctions and causes an abnormal rhythm. Scarring from a prior heart attack, a thickened heart muscle, or various heart medications are some of the precursors to sudden cardiac arrest.
While testing is the easiest avenue to learn of any heart issues that need to be fixed to prevent a cardiac episode, the cost for families to get the tests can be too expensive for many to afford. According to the Morning News, health insurance rarely covers the cost of electrocardiograms and echocardiograms, which can $300 and $1,000 each respectively.
For families who feel their teenager’’s life may be at risk and could receive life-saving care by getting their heart tested, but do not have the money to afford the expensive tests, taking out a payday loan may be an easy way to cover a portion of the medical costs.
Make Anyday Payday
