A Florida student athlete, who had no outward symptoms, discovered a significant congenital heart defect through a mandatory electrocardiogram (ECG) screening required by the state's Second Chance Act. The law, which took effect July 1, mandates that students in grades 9 through 12 undergo at least one ECG screening the first time they participate in or try out for interscholastic athletics, with limited exceptions.
Cameron Crider, a sophomore football and basketball player at Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater, learned he had an atrial septal defect (ASD) – an opening in the wall between the heart's upper chambers – after his school's ECG requirement, which aligns with the new state law. Crider had participated in intensive sports practices for years without experiencing any fatigue, shortness of breath, or other warning signs.
"I’ve been playing [sports] my whole life and didn’t notice anything, so I was surprised because I haven’t felt anything," Crider told FOX 13 Tampa Bay. His mother, Laura Crider, added that her son's ability to endure long practices made the diagnosis especially shocking.
An ASD, if left untreated, can lead to serious complications over time, including pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, and stroke, due to the strain of extra blood flow on the heart and lungs. Crider is scheduled for surgery in October and is expected to be cleared to play sports again next season.
Medical experts emphasize the importance of screenings like ECGs, noting that up to 80% of young athletes who suffer sudden cardiac arrest during exercise show no prior symptoms, according to Dr. Jonathan Drezner, director of the University of Washington Medicine Center for Sports Cardiology. The American Heart Association (AHA) states that undetected heart conditions can become dangerous under the stress of intense physical activity. While the AHA does not currently recommend universal mandatory ECG screenings for all student athletes, it supports a comprehensive approach that includes a review of personal and family medical history along with a physical examination. Health care professionals may then order follow-up tests, such as an ECG, if concerns arise.
Drezner noted that while not perfect, an ECG interpreted correctly is a highly effective tool for detecting conditions associated with sudden cardiac arrest in young people, significantly improving detection rates compared to standard sports physicals alone. He advises parents to ensure their children feel well during exercise and to discuss any family history of heart conditions or sudden cardiac arrest with their doctor, recommending an ECG screening when appropriate.