Youth Heart Screenings in the IE Help Detect Undiagnosed Cardiac Conditions

Most people associate sudden cardiac arrest with older adults—after decades of poor diet, smoking, or chronic illness. Yet it can also occur in young people, including athletes, who appear completely healthy. What is less widely understood is that some youth carry undiagnosed heart conditions that increase their risk for sudden cardiac arrest, even when they show no outward symptoms.

In young people, sudden cardiac arrest is often linked to congenital heart conditions that affect the heart’s electrical system, structure, or function. Many of these abnormalities produce no symptoms. A young person may pass a routine sports physical and still have an underlying condition that increases their risk. This is why youth cardiac screenings matter.

Organizations like Parent Heart Watch estimate that 1 in 300 young people have an undiagnosed heart condition that could place them at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. Yet most young people never receive a cardiac screening. In the United States, tests such as electrocardiograms (ECGs) are typically ordered only after symptoms appear—chest pain, fainting, or irregular heart rhythm—or after a medical event has already occurred. In other words, they are most often used for diagnosis rather than prevention.

Access is another barrier. Cardiac screenings are rarely part of routine pediatric or sports physicals, and insurance coverage can vary. For many families, the first opportunity for testing comes through community screening events or specialized clinics. Community-based screenings help bridge this gap by bringing preventative cardiac testing directly to young people who might not otherwise receive it.

That is why events like the one held on February 28th are important. Through its IE Project Heart initiative, RMC Charitable Foundation partnered with Saving Hearts Foundation – UCLA Chapter, to provide free ECG and echocardiogram screenings for youth in California’s Inland Empire region, offering families access to testing they might not otherwise receive.

The tests themselves are straightforward. An electrocardiogram (ECG) records the heart’s electrical activity using small electrodes placed on the chest. If something appears abnormal, clinicians may follow with an echocardiogram, an ultrasound that allows them to examine the heart’s structure and function in real time.

The entire process can take less than fifteen minutes. For most participants, the screening provides reassurance and peace of mind. For a small number, it identifies a condition early enough for monitoring, treatment, or lifestyle adjustments that can significantly reduce the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

Expanding preventative screening requires community support. You can help by supporting local organizations that provide youth heart screenings, volunteering at community events, advocating for broader access to preventative cardiac screenings, or contributing to RMC Charitable Foundation’s IE Project Heart programs.

Early detection saves lives—but it only works when young people have the opportunity to be screened.