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HIGH POINT, N.C. – There's no question that to be a Division I student-athlete, it takes an elite level of talent and a superior conditioning regimen.
 
However, no level of training can prevent the potential for sudden cardiac death, which currently accounts for 75 percent of student-athlete deaths that occur during an exercise regimen.
 
HPU Athletics is blessed with the opportunity to help prevent these life-threatening events before they happen. High Point University Sports Medicine conducts cardiac testing as part of a pre-participation physical exam each year for incoming student-athletes.

The NCAA has found that the risk of a male athlete dying from sudden cardiac arrest is one in 38,000 and only one in about 122,000 for female athletes. Basketball, soccer, and football players appear to be at the greatest risk — though only 4 percent of NCAA athletes are basketball players, they represent a full 20 percent of all sudden cardiac deaths.
 
As part of the University's partnership with High Point Regional Hospital, Dr. Barry Cheek and his staff donates their time, equipment and resources in order to help protect HPU student-athletes.  
 
"This is a good service to the athletic department and the University, but it's also an excellent partnership for us to gain knowledge on this topic," Dr. Cheek said. "We enjoy coming to HPU each year and talking to the student-athletes. It's always a great group of kids, and with the quick and efficient screening we do, it can truly make a difference."
 
While no test can completely eliminate the risk of sudden cardiac death, High Point University utilizes a team of experts from the UNC Regional system to perform EKG and echocardiogram testing on all incoming student-athletes. Though not mandated, some form of cardiac screening is relatively commonplace among NCAA Division I institutions.
 
What truly sets High Point University apart is the inclusion of EKGs and echocardiograms. EKG and echo testing are rarely used as part of a pre-participation screening. Performing this type of testing sets HPU on par with the likes of Power 5 athletic departments like the University of Virginia and the University of Georgia.
 
The High Point Regional staff first has the student-athletes review their family history of heart problems that can predispose an individual to a sudden cardiac event. The EKG then picks up potential abnormalities that could pose health issues. Finally, the echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) is the only reliable way to detect hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – the leading cause of death in student-athletes.
 
Furthermore, the willingness of Dr. Cheek and his staff to donate their time and equipment demonstrates a level of commitment unavailable to all but a few NCAA institutions nationwide.
 
"Criticism on a national level says that doctors can't screen for these issues efficiently and in a cost effective manner," Dr. Cheek said. "We think we're proving them wrong. With this service, the potential for sudden cardiac death can be identified and prevented in almost every case."
 
With the data collected over the next few years from HPU student-athletes, Dr. Cheek and his staff hope to partner with High Point University Sports Medicine to publish the results and provide better awareness of this benefits of this type of screening.
 
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