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An 18 year old's death
Recently, at our church, an 18 year African American male died in our gym playing basketball. Emergency CPR was performed on the individual until paramedics arrived, working on the person for 15 minutes or more, and then he was rushed to the hospital to be worked on and then later be pronounced dead. Having received information from the family, we were told the 18 year old did not have a "heart attack." That the person had cardiac myopathy (a heart muscle disease, the heart muscle was diseased), an enlarged heart (with heavy "lungs"?), mitro valve prolapse (which we were told is deadly in itself), and a fatal arrythmia (which is what I think we were told he died of.
We were told that it was genetic/hereditary, but not congenital. I didn't know there was a difference. Could you explain the difference. Also, we were told the physical exertion of the basketball playing brought about the fatal arrythmia (though he has played all year, sometimes harder). And, we were told in this past year a couple pro BB players had died from this same thing. Also, we were told taht African American males are really at risk in this area. We were also told that this 18 year old was the healthiest individual the coroner had seen for a while. That they were surprised at his fitness, having this.
Several of us who were involved in the night, particularly some of us who attempted CPR on him (though not trained and certified, we believe and later were told that we seemed to do it correctly...just with no response) are wondering if a person with this condition and 'attack' could have been resuscitated by CPR. From the time the person hit the ground we were surrounding him checking pulse and breathing. He took several (10+) deep sucking breaths, 10-15 seconds apart. But when the breathing stopped and a pulse could not be found, we began CPR. 911 had already been called. Within minutes (we really believe it was less than 5--they're just down the street a few blocks) the paramedics took our place and tried "everything." After CPR by them, they rushed him to the ER. But again, no rythm nor breathing on his own. We are wondering why nothing helped. Is this type of arrythmia or mitro valve prolapse or cardiac myopathy beyond CPR's help? What happened that the incident took place right there and then? Could it have happened at anytime prior or later? And, if enlarged, and if diseased, and arrythmic, why was nothing ever detected by this 18 year old or his doctors?
I know this is a lot of questions. But, if you can help us understand any of this, it certainly would be help to us. Thanks you!
We were told that it was genetic/hereditary, but not congenital. I didn't know there was a difference. Could you explain the difference. Also, we were told the physical exertion of the basketball playing brought about the fatal arrythmia (though he has played all year, sometimes harder). And, we were told in this past year a couple pro BB players had died from this same thing. Also, we were told taht African American males are really at risk in this area. We were also told that this 18 year old was the healthiest individual the coroner had seen for a while. That they were surprised at his fitness, having this.
Several of us who were involved in the night, particularly some of us who attempted CPR on him (though not trained and certified, we believe and later were told that we seemed to do it correctly...just with no response) are wondering if a person with this condition and 'attack' could have been resuscitated by CPR. From the time the person hit the ground we were surrounding him checking pulse and breathing. He took several (10+) deep sucking breaths, 10-15 seconds apart. But when the breathing stopped and a pulse could not be found, we began CPR. 911 had already been called. Within minutes (we really believe it was less than 5--they're just down the street a few blocks) the paramedics took our place and tried "everything." After CPR by them, they rushed him to the ER. But again, no rythm nor breathing on his own. We are wondering why nothing helped. Is this type of arrythmia or mitro valve prolapse or cardiac myopathy beyond CPR's help? What happened that the incident took place right there and then? Could it have happened at anytime prior or later? And, if enlarged, and if diseased, and arrythmic, why was nothing ever detected by this 18 year old or his doctors?
I know this is a lot of questions. But, if you can help us understand any of this, it certainly would be help to us. Thanks you!
Hi,
I was reading your letters and was wondering if someone could help me with my recent questions.
My year round 12 yr. old son who recently had surgery to have an extra navicular bone in his foot removed was well post op for 3 weeks until he started having near fainting spells, daily nausea, and daily headaches, fatigue, and several episodes of chest pain, and a feeling of his heart racing. He gets very pale when this happens.
He's been to the doc several times, and just went to a peds cardiologist, who said he had a normal EKG, and ultrasound. He will have a halter moniter next week. He was diagnosed with mild mitro valve prolapse, but not necessarily the problem, according to the doctor. So far, we don't have an answer to what's going on, he's due to follow up with his doc next week, and I'm confused still.
Any Help out there?
I was reading your letters and was wondering if someone could help me with my recent questions.
My year round 12 yr. old son who recently had surgery to have an extra navicular bone in his foot removed was well post op for 3 weeks until he started having near fainting spells, daily nausea, and daily headaches, fatigue, and several episodes of chest pain, and a feeling of his heart racing. He gets very pale when this happens.
He's been to the doc several times, and just went to a peds cardiologist, who said he had a normal EKG, and ultrasound. He will have a halter moniter next week. He was diagnosed with mild mitro valve prolapse, but not necessarily the problem, according to the doctor. So far, we don't have an answer to what's going on, he's due to follow up with his doc next week, and I'm confused still.
Any Help out there?
Hi to all of you.
Sudden unexplained death in young people (common in athletes) is often associated with
a prolonged QT interval. I have this and have nearly died six times from cardiac arrest.
The condition is typically inherited, although certain drugs and eloctrolyte abnormalities
can prolong the QT interval also. It is not a real common condition, although it is the
a major cause of sudden death in children and teenagers. Sudden death occurs frequently
during exercise, but can also occur during sleep, a startle (such as a loud noise)
or during normal activities. My cardiac arrests have almost always happened while at rest.
This can be easily diagnosed with an EKG, and sometimes a stress test. It is usually easily
treatable with beta-blockers and in a few instances a pacemaker is required. I also have
gastroparesis (a paralyzed stomach) so my cardiac arrest are often the result of low potassium
which I have a heck of a time keeping up. If you have any more questions about this, feel free
to e-mail me at ***@****. Good Luck.
Sudden unexplained death in young people (common in athletes) is often associated with
a prolonged QT interval. I have this and have nearly died six times from cardiac arrest.
The condition is typically inherited, although certain drugs and eloctrolyte abnormalities
can prolong the QT interval also. It is not a real common condition, although it is the
a major cause of sudden death in children and teenagers. Sudden death occurs frequently
during exercise, but can also occur during sleep, a startle (such as a loud noise)
or during normal activities. My cardiac arrests have almost always happened while at rest.
This can be easily diagnosed with an EKG, and sometimes a stress test. It is usually easily
treatable with beta-blockers and in a few instances a pacemaker is required. I also have
gastroparesis (a paralyzed stomach) so my cardiac arrest are often the result of low potassium
which I have a heck of a time keeping up. If you have any more questions about this, feel free
to e-mail me at ***@****. Good Luck.
I've been reading all these stories-I have a scary situation. First of all, heart conditions run in my family, I lost my father 2 yrs ago of a massive heart attack,(had his first in '84, 2nd in '95 and last on Dec. 9,1997); two of my sisters, one brother and myself have MVP, one brother and a nieve have arthmeia (misspelled)and now, well I'm scared for my 11 yr. old daughter. She was born with a "heart murmur" the pediatrician told me. She is very active. She is on two different basketball teams. Last Sat. afternoon during her game she just was not "up to par"-by the end of the third quarter, her heart was beating so fast and hard you could see it through her shirt, she was dizzy, kind of short of breath and sick to her stomach-I pulled her out of the game, got her settled down and took her home, she slept the rest of the evening. Was this a heart murmur she was born with??? or are these systems of a heart condition?? In any event I have called her doctor and asked him to check her out and refer us to a pediatric cardiologist-she is very upset with me because I said no more basketball til we see a doctor-any input out there as to whether I'm just a panicking mother or not??? Thanks!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between HOCM and the normal enlargement that occurs in athletes. In some cases sports are prohibited for 6months to a year and the heart size followed. If it decreases then the enlargement is due to sports. I would recommend having your son see a specialist in HOCM to make sure he is not at risk. If he would like to come to the Cleveland Clinic he should see Dr. Harry Lever who is a specialist in this condition.
This is terribly sad situation that seems to be happening more and more frequently in athletes. I have a question. My 15 year old son has hypertension, relatively uncontrolled by medication. He has been diagnosed with an enlarged heart via chest x-ray. He also has left ventricular hypertrophy, abnormal EKG, abnormal stress test, mild mitral valve prolapse, tricuspid insufficiency, and frequent episodes of tachycardia, with or without exertion. His BP goes up following exertion, and yet his cardiologist (pediatric, since there are no adolescent cardiologists) has released him to play basketball. One of the adult cardiologists who looked at his echocardiogram stated that this is the type of thing they find at autopsies of these young, apparently perfect physical specimens, such as my son and the teen written about, who drop dead on ball or track fields, and basketball courts. This also happened to Hank Gathers. What is the difference, if any, between the type of cardiomyopathy you, as the physician, describe, and left ventricular hypertrophy? If these kids are in such excellent shape all their lives, and such terrific athletes, how does a parent know they have heart disease unless they drop dead or, in our case, all the damage and hypertension is found totally by accident? My son came down with Epstein-Barr and that's where it all started. Can you offer some advice to parents of athletes? And how safe is it for him to continue to play basketball, when he is not allowed to play football because it could kill him? This sounds like an oxymoron to me! Thank you!!
This is terribly sad situation that seems to be happening more and more frequently in athletes. I have a question. My 15 year old son has hypertension, relatively uncontrolled by medication. He has been diagnosed with an enlarged heart via chest x-ray. He also has left ventricular hypertrophy, abnormal EKG, abnormal stress test, mild mitral valve prolapse, tricuspid insufficiency, and frequent episodes of tachycardia, with or without exertion. His BP goes up following exertion, and yet his cardiologist (pediatric, since there are no adolescent cardiologists) has released him to play basketball. One of the adult cardiologists who looked at his echocardiogram stated that this is the type of thing they find at autopsies of these young, apparently perfect physical specimens, such as my son and the teen written about, who drop dead on ball or track fields, and basketball courts. This also happened to Hank Gathers. What is the difference, if any, between the type of cardiomyopathy you, as the physician, describe, and left ventricular hypertrophy? If these kids are in such excellent shape all their lives, and such terrific athletes, how does a parent know they have heart disease unless they drop dead or, in our case, all the damage and hypertension is found totally by accident? My son came down with Epstein-Barr and that's where it all started. Can you offer some advice to parents of athletes? And how safe is it for him to continue to play basketball, when he is not allowed to play football because it could kill him? This sounds like an oxymoron to me! Thank you!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The current feeling is that MVP is not related to an increased risk of death.
Can someone actually die from just MVP? A woman in our city just died one day and people that were close to her are saying she was diagnosed with MVP just recently and that's what killed her. This concerns me because I have had a successful MVP repair in June 1999, but I wasn't told this could cause death.
Chuck
My condolences go out to you for your loss.
I have a comment concerning the mitral valve prolapse. I have this condition and I am 18 years old, in fact, many people do. The condition is very common, I have had it since I was born. I know that it can sometimes cause problems, but in the worst case that would be a valve replacement(from my understanding). I would think that it was a genetic defect, or a combination of all those problems together that lead to his death. Although I am not a doctor, I have done a lot of reasearch on MVP and I could never find any links between that and death. If there are any comments from anyone else who knows anything more, I would appreciate them and I'm sure Chuck would.
My condolences go out to you for your loss.
I have a comment concerning the mitral valve prolapse. I have this condition and I am 18 years old, in fact, many people do. The condition is very common, I have had it since I was born. I know that it can sometimes cause problems, but in the worst case that would be a valve replacement(from my understanding). I would think that it was a genetic defect, or a combination of all those problems together that lead to his death. Although I am not a doctor, I have done a lot of reasearch on MVP and I could never find any links between that and death. If there are any comments from anyone else who knows anything more, I would appreciate them and I'm sure Chuck would.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks Kathryn. I hope your son is doing well now.
Reply to Zac - Please see your Doctor immediately. My son who is 25 had some fainting episodes and similar symptoms to yours. After two visits to his Primary care physician he was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. The initial diagnosis was panic attack, but a chest xray and EKG on the second visit revealed an enlarged heart and strange heart rythm.. Do not put off finding out what is causing your difficulties. This is your life and well being you are talking about. Take charge of your own health now!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Zac - please be sure to see your doctor concerning your symptoms. Don't become a statistic.
This isn't to say that you don't have a medical problem, but have you ever had a panic attack? I used to get them and had similar reactions. Just a thought. I hope you get things figured out. To be safe, you may want to consult a doctor. Even if it is panic related, they can help you sort it out. Good luck!
Recently in the past 2 weeks I've been having chest pains that will come and go. I have been taking zantac 75 and other antacids thinking that it may be severe heart burn. I'm so scared that it might be a heart attack. Please tell me do heart attack symptoms last more than 2-3 weeks. I'm 19 years old and don't smoke (I've only smoked socially!!). There is pain in my right arm and I don't know whether it's because I pinched a nerve or if I am having symptoms that lead to a heart attack. In my fingers I often feel a tingling sensation. Please, if anyone out there knows what is wrong with me, write me and tell me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Dear Chuck,
A tragic story and fortunately one that is relatively rare. I am sure it has left many of you involved asking many "what if..." questions. The type of condition your friend had is called Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy or HOCM for short. This is a genetic defect (congenital is another term for genetic) and leads to a thickening of the ventricle and an increased risk of ventricular tachycardia, particularlly during intense physical exertion. Had this been discovered earlier his doctor would have restricted him from physical activities but this is no guarantee of freedom from ventricular tachycardia. It sounds like everything that could be done was done and nothing else could have been done differently. My condolences to the family and all involved in this situation.
A tragic story and fortunately one that is relatively rare. I am sure it has left many of you involved asking many "what if..." questions. The type of condition your friend had is called Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy or HOCM for short. This is a genetic defect (congenital is another term for genetic) and leads to a thickening of the ventricle and an increased risk of ventricular tachycardia, particularlly during intense physical exertion. Had this been discovered earlier his doctor would have restricted him from physical activities but this is no guarantee of freedom from ventricular tachycardia. It sounds like everything that could be done was done and nothing else could have been done differently. My condolences to the family and all involved in this situation.
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