Midland Health will hold a teen heart screening event on August 3 at Midland Memorial Hospital. The event is supported by Championship Hearts Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Manor.
According to Eventbrite, teenagers aged 14-18 will receive a free heart screening for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Those interested in attending the event, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., can reserve a spot by visiting the Eventbrite website.
Championship Hearts Foundation suggests that one HCM screening after age 15 is sufficient unless cardiac symptoms are present. HCM is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick and makes it hard for the heart to pump blood. It often goes undiagnosed. Most people with the condition have no symptoms and experience no significant problems. For some, it can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, or abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
Eventbrite states that students interested in attending the event must obtain a parental waiver and wear loose-fitting clothing. The heart screening event is also seeking adult and high school volunteers to help with check-in, greeting, escorting, and check-out duties. Interested volunteers can register by visiting the Eventbrite website.