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In an age where physical activity is being heavily promoted, athletes can be at risk for heart attacks and other ailments that can be hazardous and even fatal. According to the Academy of Pediatrics, 2,000 U.S. athletes under the age of 25 die from sudden unexpected death (SUD) every year, usually just right after a game or training session. Athletic Heart Syndrome (AHS), also named Athlete's Heart and athletic bradycardia, is a condition found in some athletes that causes the heart to enlarge over time due to exercising (mainly aerobic activity and endurance sports). During a strenuous activity, oxygen begins to flood the skeletal muscles, forcing the heart to work harder to pump more blood, and over time the walls of the heart grow larger, specifically on the left side. Typically, the heart returns to normal size once the athlete retires, but for some it can prove deadly long before then. Reports show there are no warning signs of Athlete's Heart until it is too late. A person suffers from sudden unexpected death when the heart stops beating. Unless the person receives immediate medical attention, death will occur just few minutes later. Experts on the subject strongly recommend that all sports events keep an automated external defibrillator (AED — a device that restores heart rhythm by use of electric energy) on site, in case of emergency. If the person doesn't receive immediate attention but survives, they face the risk of brain and other tissue damage. Some doctors recommend routine heart screening by what's called an electrocardiogram (EKG) as a method of prevention. EKGs record heart rate, size, and detect any problems that may be present. The problem with these screenings is that they are expensive and sometimes pick up false results, leading the patient unnecessary to seek treatment. Researchers are trying to find more accurate and cost- effective methods of detecting abnormalities of the heart in athletes. So far, the best preventative measurement against AHS is to know your family's history of heart disease since the condition is inherited. From this, a person's risk factor for AHS can be determined and further steps can be made between doctor and patient to ensure the patient's well-being.

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