Hundreds of Lewisville ISD students will take a free 10-minute heart screening this Saturday, April 30, to look for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetic heart disorder that rarely has identifiable symptoms.
LISD has partnered with the Championship Hearts Foundation to become the first school district in North Texas to offer free heart screenings for students.
The screenings will take place at Killough Lewisville High School, 1301 Summit Ave. in Lewisville, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
HCM is a condition that causes a thickening of the heart wall and can lead to obstruction of blood flow and erratic heartbeat. It is the leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest in students and a diagnosis of HCM could save a life, according to school officials. HCM affects approximately one in 500 of the general population.
“The health of our students is always a top priority,” said Dr. Stephen Waddell, Superintendent of Schools. “I am thankful we were able to partner with the Championship Hearts Foundation to provide this invaluable free service. If we can help save one life, our efforts will be significant.”
The test involves a brief, non-evasive, two-dimensional echocardiogram administered by a certified technician and interpreted by a certified cardiologist.
Students ages 14 to 18 who would like to participate, can still sign-up at www.championshipheartsfoundation.org/heart-screenings/screening-events.