1 year ago
34
DAY FORECAST COMING UP SHERRY AND GUY. WELL, HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY MOURN THE LOSS OF 17 YEAR OLD CALEB WHITE. THIS STORY HAS TOUCHED SO MANY PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. IT’S JUST SUCH A SHOCKING CASE. HE WAS A STAR ATHLETE AT IN GREAT SHAPE. IT’S REALLY HARD TO UNDERSTAND HOW HE COULD JUST COLLAPSE AND PASS AWAY. WVTM13’S LISA CRANE IS LIVE AT WHITE SCHOOL TONIGHT. AND, LISA, A LOT OF PARENTS STILL TRYING TO WRAP THEIR HEADS AROUND HOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN. YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE ALL WANT TO THINK THAT WE WOULD SEE THE SIGNS OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND BE ABLE TO PREVENT IT. BUT I SPOKE TO A CARDIOLOGIST TODAY WHO SAYS IF CALEB PASSED AWAY FROM SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST, OFTEN THERE AREN’T ANY SIGNS. DEMAR HAMLIN’S COLLAPSE ON NATIONAL TV IN JANUARY SHOCKED THE COUNTRY. HE SUFFERED SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH. THANKFULLY, HE WAS RESUSCITATED. THEN LAST MONTH, LEBRON JAMES, 18 YEAR OLD SON BRONNY COLLAPSED ON THE USC CAMPUS. HE WAS ALSO RESUSCITATED. THEN LAST WEEK, 17 YEAR OLD CALEB WHITE. SADLY, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAMS WERE NOT ABLE TO BRING HIM BACK. CARDIOLOGIST DR. TOM EGAN SAYS THE MOST COMMON CAUSE IS CONGENITAL. IT’S CALLED HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY IN AFRICAN AMERICANS. YOU CAN SEE AN INCREASED RISK OF THAT DISEASE OF THICKENING OF THE HEART MUSCLE OR EVEN A DILATED SITUATION WHERE THE HEART ITSELF IS DILATED AND THAT CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH. DR. EGAN SAYS IT CAN ALSO BE ACQUIRED CAUSED BY HEAT ELECTROLYTE ABNORMALITIES, DEHYDRATION OR EVEN A VIRUS LIKE COVID. AS FAR AS CATCHING THIS BEFORE IT HAPPENS, DR. EGAN SAYS HE DOESN’T THINK CURRENT REQUIREMENTS TO PLAY SCHOOL SPORTS NEED TO BE CHANGED. THE KEY IS IN THE HISTORY AND IN THE PHYSICAL EXAM TO SCREEN FOR THESE POSSIBLE ABNORMALITIES AND THEN TAKING A GOOD FAMILY HISTORY TO SEE IF THERE ARE CONGENITAL GENETIC CAUSES OF DISEASE, HE SAYS. HAVING MEDICAL PERSONNEL AT THE READY DURING SPORTING EVENTS AND EVEN PRACTICES CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. THE DEMAR HAMLIN SITUATION WAS WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHERE HAVING FIRST RESPONDERS AVAILABLE THAT ARE WELL TRAINED AND IMMEDIATE CARDIAC ARREST, RESUSCITATE EFFORTS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SOME LIVES AND HAVING AN AUTOMATED DEFIBRILLATOR AVAILABLE IS SO IMPORTANT. SO AS YOUR CHILD IS GETTING THOSE PHYSICALS TO TAKE PART IN SCHOOL SPORTS, DOCTOR EGAN SAYS MAKE SURE AND TELL THEIR DOCTOR ABOUT ANY FAMILY MEDICAL HISTORY YOU THINK MIGHT BE IMPORTANT
African Americans more at risk for sudden cardiac death
Several high-profile local and national cases shine light on SCD
As friends and family mourn the loss of 17-year-old Caleb White, his story has touched people all over the country. It’s a shocking loss because he was an outstanding athlete and in great shape, so it's hard to understand how he could just collapse and pass away. Many parents are just trying to wrap their heads around how something like this could happen.We spoke to a cardiologist who says if Caleb died from sudden cardiac arrest, often there really aren't any signs. Damar Hamlin's collapse on national TV in January shocked the country. He suffered sudden cardiac death. Thankfully, he was resuscitated. Then last month, LeBron James’ 18-year-old son, Bronny, collapsed on the University of Southern California campus. He was also resuscitated. Then last week, 17-year-old Caleb White. Sadly, emergency medical teams were not able to bring him back.Cardiologist Dr. Tom Eagan says the most common cause is congenital; it's called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.“In African Americans, you can see an increased risk of that disease, of thickening of the heart muscle or even a dilated situation where the heart itself is dilated, and that can lead to sudden cardiac death," Eagan said.Eagan says it can also be acquired, caused by heat, electrolyte abnormalities, dehydration or even a virus like COVID-19. As far as catching this before it happens. Eagan says he doesn't think current requirements to play sports in school need to be changed.“The key is in the history and the physical exam to screen for these possible abnormalities and then take in a good family history to see if they're congenital genetic causes of disease," Eagan said.Eagan says having medical personnel at the ready during sporting events and even practices can make all the difference.“The Damar Hamlin situation was a great example of where having first responders available that are well-trained and immediate cardiac arrest resuscitation efforts can make a difference in some lives, and having an automated defibrillator available is so important," Eagan said.So as your child is getting those physicals to take part in school sports, Eagan says to make sure to tell their doctor about any family medical history you think might be important.
PINSON, Ala. —
As friends and family mourn the loss of 17-year-old Caleb White, his story has touched people all over the country. It’s a shocking loss because he was an outstanding athlete and in great shape, so it's hard to understand how he could just collapse and pass away. Many parents are just trying to wrap their heads around how something like this could happen.
We spoke to a cardiologist who says if Caleb died from sudden cardiac arrest, often there really aren't any signs. Damar Hamlin's collapse on national TV in January shocked the country. He suffered sudden cardiac death. Thankfully, he was resuscitated. Then last month, LeBron James’ 18-year-old son, Bronny, collapsed on the University of Southern California campus. He was also resuscitated. Then last week, 17-year-old Caleb White. Sadly, emergency medical teams were not able to bring him back.
Cardiologist Dr. Tom Eagan says the most common cause is congenital; it's called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
“In African Americans, you can see an increased risk of that disease, of thickening of the heart muscle or even a dilated situation where the heart itself is dilated, and that can lead to sudden cardiac death," Eagan said.
Eagan says it can also be acquired, caused by heat, electrolyte abnormalities, dehydration or even a virus like COVID-19. As far as catching this before it happens. Eagan says he doesn't think current requirements to play sports in school need to be changed.
“The key is in the history and the physical exam to screen for these possible abnormalities and then take in a good family history to see if they're congenital genetic causes of disease," Eagan said.
Eagan says having medical personnel at the ready during sporting events and even practices can make all the difference.
“The Damar Hamlin situation was a great example of where having first responders available that are well-trained and immediate cardiac arrest resuscitation efforts can make a difference in some lives, and having an automated defibrillator available is so important," Eagan said.
So as your child is getting those physicals to take part in school sports, Eagan says to make sure to tell their doctor about any family medical history you think might be important.
English (US)