Why heart screenings matter for teens

A healthy teenager. An active athlete. A student preparing for the next big milestone.

For many families, a serious heart condition is the last thing they expect to encounter.

Yet some of the heart conditions most commonly associated with sudden cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death in young people show little to no warning signs. In many cases, symptoms may not appear until a child participates in sports, exercises or engages in everyday activities.

That's why organizations like Championship Hearts Foundation are working alongside healthcare providers to bring no-cost heart screenings directly to communities across Texas.

Through its partnership with Dell Children's Medical Center, Championship Hearts is helping families gain access to potentially life-saving information before symptoms ever appear.

The heart conditions you can't always see

One of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death in young people is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition that causes the heart muscle to become abnormally thick. The condition often develops without symptoms and may not be detected during a routine sports physical.

In fact, many underlying heart conditions can go unnoticed without specialized cardiac screening.

While sports physicals remain an important part of keeping students healthy and safe, they are not designed to identify every heart condition. Additional screening can provide another layer of protection and peace of mind for families.

As Chief of Cardiology at the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease at Dell Children’s Medical Center and a longtime supporter of Championship Hearts screenings, Dr. Byron Holt says early detection can be lifesaving."Often, the first symptom can be the last. Regardless of how healthy a teen may appear, screenings are one of the only ways we can identify certain heart conditions before a life-threatening event occurs."

For parents, coaches and caregivers, the challenge is simple: you can't act on what you don't know.

Heart screenings help bridge that gap.

Free heart screenings for early detection

For more than two decades, Championship Hearts Foundation has worked to prevent sudden cardiac death in adolescents through education, awareness and early detection.

The nonprofit organization provides free heart screenings for students ages 12 to 18, helping identify conditions that may place young people at risk for serious cardiac events.

What makes the program unique is its focus on prevention.

Rather than waiting for symptoms to appear, families are empowered with information about their child's heart health, creating opportunities for follow-up care when concerns are identified.

Every screening offers the chance to detect a condition early, answer important questions, provide reassurance to families and connect them to specialists at Dell Children’s if needed.

Heart screenings backed by nationally ranked care

Heart screenings are just one example of how Dell Children's is helping identify and address heart conditions before they become life-threatening.

The screenings are supported by the expertise of the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease at Dell Children's Medical Center, one of the nation's leading pediatric heart programs.

Recently ranked No. 10 in the nation for Pediatric Cardiology and Heart Surgery by U.S. News & World Report, the program brings together pediatric cardiologists, congenital heart surgeons, nurses and specialists dedicated to caring for children with both common and complex heart conditions.

From routine evaluations to advanced congenital heart care, the team serves families throughout Central Texas and beyond, providing world-class care close to home.

Through partnerships like Championship Hearts, that expertise extends beyond the hospital walls into the community, helping identify potential concerns before symptoms appear and connecting families with specialized care when needed.

"Championship Hearts Foundation has a mission to screen high school-aged athletes for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, one of the leading causes of sudden death in young athletes," Dr. Holt said. "These screenings give us an opportunity to identify at-risk patients before symptoms ever appear."

What happens during a heart screening?

Many parents are surprised to learn how simple the screening process can be.

The screening includes:

• A 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG)
• A limited echocardiogram (ECHO)
• Blood pressure evaluation
• Review by trained cardiology professionals

The process is painless, non-invasive and typically takes less than an hour to complete.

Most importantly, families receive immediate results and guidance regarding any findings that may require additional evaluation.

The importance of heart screenings for all teens

Although stories about sudden cardiac arrest often involve athletes, heart conditions can affect any teenager.

That's why heart screenings are recommended for all teens, not just those participating in organized sports.

Whether a teen is involved in athletics, dance, marching band, cheerleading or simply enjoys staying active, understanding their heart health is an important part of overall wellness.

For some families, the screening provides reassurance. For others, it can uncover a condition that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Either way, knowledge becomes a powerful tool.

Protecting heart health through early detection

At Dell Children's, caring for children means more than treating illness. It means helping families stay healthy before a crisis occurs.

Programs like Championship Hearts reflect a shared commitment to prevention, education and early detection, ensuring families have access to the information and resources they need to make informed decisions about their child's health.

Every screening is an opportunity to learn more, ask questions and take an active role in protecting a child's future. Whether your child is an athlete preparing for the next season or simply looking to better understand their heart health, these screenings can help identify potential concerns before symptoms appear.

Because when it comes to a child's heart, early detection can make all the difference.

Register today for a free teen heart screening.

This blog is intended for general informational use. Any health-related information shared is not meant to provide or replace professional medical advice and does not establish a patient-provider relationship. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.