Brit Mott

On April 2, 2009, 16-year-old Plano athlete Zachary (Zac) Schrah collapsed from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) on the football field. His mom Karen and a group of community leaders have created a nonprofit called Living for Zachary to raise awareness of SCA.

THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano has joined in the effort by offering cardiac screenings for youth ages 13–22 at a discounted rate of only $100. Offered on Saturdays from 12–5 p.m. at THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano, the cardiac screenings include a 12-lead ECG (electrocardiography) and a limited 2-D echocardiogram.

Dr. Deepika Gopal, M.D., F.A.C.C., is the Director of Cardiac CT imaging at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano and a prominent speaker for the American Heart Association. She explained that an ECG measures the electrical activity of the heart through electrodes that are attached to the patient’s body (via tape-like circles). An echocardiogram takes ultrasound images of the heart.

Dr. Gopal stated that the incidence of sudden cardiac death in athletes is one in 200,000 to 300,000 per year in the United States. She feels confident in the measures that Baylor Plano is taking to decrease this statistic. “First, the family fills out questionnaire targeting symptoms in the child…asking if he or she has chest pains, discomfort with exertion, or sensation when active. The family also informs us of a familial history of SCA. It is important to know if the child has someone in the family less than 50 years of age with a history of SCA.”

Knowing the patient’s family history helps Dr. Gopal and her colleagues determine if the patient is at risk for genetic abnormalities like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, “when the heart muscle becomes excessively thick and grows through a child's adolescent years,” Dr. Gopal explains. “The incidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is 1 in 500. If a child has that, they need a cardiac screening every one to two years.”

A 12-lead ECG and a 2-D limited echocardiogram also allow doctors to interpret other causes of SCA, like long QT syndrome and ventricular dysplasia.

Because these tests typically run thousands of dollars, Dr. Gopal recommends taking advantage of the discounted rate offered at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano. “One hundred dollars is not much considering a cardiac screening may be life-saving,” she said.

Dr. Gopal also recommends parents encourage healthy eating habits around children. “Obesity is a major epidemic, so you want to make sure your children are not overeating. Avoid fast foods, eat fruits and vegetables, and exercise. If your children have routine physical exams at school, take advantage of that, too.”

Zac’s mom, Karen, agreed and added that the mission of Living for Zachary is not only to raise awareness of SCA and encourage cardiac screenings, but also to "live for Zachary by doing the things he loved to do." That's why, in Zac's memory, Karen has organized various community events and fundraisers throughout the year, including golf, sporting clay and fishing tournaments. Up-and-coming on Monday, June 21 is a golf tournament at Gleneagles Country Club. (More information is available at living4zachary.org.)

"I am so honored for all the opportunities we at Living for Zachary have had," said Karen. “This experience has changed me to be a stronger person committed to the cause of saving other families from grief by sharing my story. I feel I have found my purpose and will continue on a very different journey through life. As Zac said, ‘Things turn out the best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.’”

For more information on cardiac screenings offered at THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano, call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit baylorhealth.edu. For more information on Living for Zachary, call 214.673.3404 or visit living4zachary.org.