Heart Screens for Teens at Pinecrest Academy

Pinecrest Academy senior, Matthew Farkas, was diagnosed with heart disease at the age of 16. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), is the leading cause of death in young athletes and can occur without warning, and quite often without any symptoms.  Matt was the picture of good health at the time of his diagnosis and has been an athlete since second grade. Yet, he was diagnosed with heart disease during a routine physical, which proved to be critical in saving him from death on the football field or basketball court.

Not all athletes have been as fortunate as Matt in receiving an early detection. In reaction to the sudden heart-related death of Ryan Boslet, a 17-year-old Alpharetta athlete, Mickey King Jr., founder of Ultrascan, Inc., recruited top cardiologists and echo technologists to work with its mobile ultrasound units, screening students’ hearts and detecting potentially fatal conditions.

Ultrascan, Inc. joined with Children’s Cardiovascular Medicine of Marietta to offer “Heart Screens For Teens,” an affordable screening program to schools, sports teams, and other organizations.

Cheryl Farkas, Matthew's mother, knows these dangers all too well. 

“All young athletes should be screened for HCM and other heart defects,” she said. Screening is recommended yearly for athletes 11-years-old and up, and in some instances, required.

“Heart Screens For Teens is an awesome program that provides affordable screening for all. Typically, screenings are $900- $1,500, but we’re fortunate to receive this service for just $65,” said Farkas.

The echocardiogram exam is simple, safe, requires no preparation, and takes 10-15 minutes. A registered technologist uses an ultrasound unit, utilizing high frequency sound waves to create images of the heart and determine how well blood flows through the organ. Confidential results are analyzed by a board-certified pediatric cardiologist and given to parents. Any child found to have an abnormal test result is referred to the family’s pediatrician for medical follow up.

The next Heart Screens For Teens event will be held on the Pinecrest Academy campus on Saturday, May 7, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The cost is just $65. Screenings will take place on the first floor of the Gannon Building. Contact Cheryl Farkas at CherylFarkas@aol.com or 770-826-9478 for information on the Pinecrest screening event.  

For more information on the Heart Screens For Teens program, call Ultrascan, Inc. at 770-813-8323 or (click here).