Past News Releases
July 20, 2016
Screening for the prevention of sudden cardiac death in young people
Screening
appointments are available for middle, high school and college
students during the 2016 summer vacation period. For information or to
schedule a child for a screening study, please contact us by e-mail at ccaa@texasheart.org or call us at 832-355-9393.
March 3, 2014
TX Heart Institute Conducts Spring Break Heart Screenings for Students in Study of Sudden Cardiac Death in Young People
The Texas Heart Institute’s Center for Coronary Artery Anomalies will be conducting heart screenings for Houston-area middle- and high-school students during the school "spring break" period as part of a research study to find out whether two low risk medical tests can identify children who have undetected heart conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac death. The screenings, open to middle and high school students, will be conducted in the Texas Medical Center at no cost to participants, but parental consent is required for minors and parents must make appointments.
Cases of sudden cardiac death are tied to heart conditions that some children are born with, and that are difficult to detect. The high-precision screening studies include an EKG and MRI of the heart that can help spot these high-risk conditions. There are no needles, injections, ionizing radiation or blood tests involved and a screening typically takes about 45 minutes.
The Texas Heart Institute study, funded with support from Houston's Kinder Foundation, has screened almost 5,000 students to date, about halfway to its goal of screening 10,000. To schedule an appointment, parents may call 832-355-9393 or email ccaa@texasheart.org.
February 12, 2013
TX Heart Institute Partnership Yielding Valuable Information for Parents, Doctors
It’s been a few years since the Texas Heart Institute (THI) first joined forces with HISD to offer free heart screenings to district students, but since the initiative’s launch in 2010, this innovative partnership has already provided potentially life-saving information to more than four dozen young people and their families. Of the more than 3,000 middle-schoolers who had completed the free screenings by the end of 2012, at least 50 were flagged for abnormal results. - Houston ISD website
October 29, 2012
Research unraveling the risks of deadly hidden heart problems
Alaina Dixon had no idea she had heart problems until she collapsed in cardiac arrest 25 yards from the finish line at the Chevron Houston Marathon in January 2011. Because race organizers had emergency cardiac equipment on hand, Dixon survived to run another day. — Houston Chronicle
August 10, 2012
European Soccer Star Cleared for Play After Evaluation by Experts at THI
Dutch player Hedwiges Maduro has been cleared to resume play for the Spanish team, FC Sevilla, after an extensive evaluation by Dr. Paolo Angelini, with the Center for Coronary Artery Anomalies at THI. Watch the video on YouTube (available in both English and Spanish).
June 1, 2012
Center for Coronary Artery Anomalies/Fort Bend ISD to offer free MRIs for students Ultimate Fort Bend by Sara Glafcke
The Center for Coronary Artery Anomalies at the Texas Heart Institute has partnered with Fort Bend Independent School District to offer free MRI heart screenings for middle school students.
April 30, 2012
Heart Risk in Athletes Is Gaining Attention
"Should high school athletes be screened for heart trouble before taking to the practice field?" A New York Times article examines the issue. "Once thought to be exceedingly rare, sudden cardiac death is far more prevalent among young athletes than previously believed, recent research has shown. . . . Some experts think the time has come for thorough heart screenings for all young athletes. Researchers at the Texas Heart Institute are even looking at the prevalence of heart abnormalities in middle-school students and the feasibility of complete screenings, combining EKGs and imaging tests." Read more about the Houston MRI Screening Study.
January 6, 2012
Kinder Outreach Program finds heart disease in Houston children
Read more at www.healthyhoustonkids.com.
June 30, 2011
Fort Bend ISD partners with the Texas Heart Institute to provide free MRI screening to middle school students.
This prevention-oriented research study can help identify children who may have undetected heart conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac death.
Read the full press release.
March 19, 2011
Research May Save Lives of Young Athletes
The Houston Chronicle "Viewpoints" section published an article by Dr. James T. Willerson, Dr. Paolo Angelini, and Meredith J. Long concerning the activities of the Texas Heart Institute Center for Coronary Artery Anomalies, including the Houston MRI Screening Study. Read the article.
