Hidden Killer

[Superbob]

Before moving down here, I did some work for VMI, so this very sad, heart-related announcement from the Institute caught my attention. Insidious thing about this particular heart malady, IHSS, is that it is hard to detect and seemingly healthy young people may never know they have a problem until they are struck down, typically after exertion. ("Subaortic" may give a clue about its underlying nature.)

I guess if there is a lesson here, it is to get a great cardiologist to do a very thorough work-up, especially if there has been any family history of this.

* * *

Statement on the Cause of Death of Cadet Evans
LEXINGTON, Va., Dec. 2, 2009 *– Virginia Military Institute has been informed that the Medical Examiner for the Western District of Virginia has determined that Cadet John A. Evans died as a result of cardiac arrest due to an underlying medical condition, Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis, or IHSS.

Cadet Evans, 19, was a 4th Class cadet (freshman) when he collapsed and died Nov. 7, 2009, after completing a 10-mile road march with other members of the 4th Class. He was buried Nov. 14 near his hometown of Highland, Md. His family has received and continues to receive the heartfelt sympathy of the faculty and staff, fellow cadets, and especially his Brother Rats at VMI.

According to the Web site WebMD, IHSS is also known as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, an inherited disease of the heart muscle that causes thickening of the heart muscle and other changes to the heart that significantly impair its function. Although the disease is rare, IHSS is the single most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest in seemingly healthy young people.

In the wake of this tragedy, VMI is nearing completion of an internal review of the events surrounding Cadet Evans’ death.

* * *

Here is one of many links I found to additional information on this:


https://health.google.com/health/ref/Hypertrophic+cardiomyopathy

 

[Wise]

What a tragic loss of a young man. I hope the people who need screened will either do it or even find out that they need to get screened.

 

[Lily]

Very sad to read about this in such a young man.

Many years ago, my dad was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which was called IHSS, although they don't use the term IHSS much anymore. Originally, when he began having symptoms and passing out, he was diagnosed with an "athletic heart," which my family all giggled over because he was no athelete. But that's often an early misdiagnosis with the disease. His doctors thought I would develop it. I guess his form was congenital. Happy thought .

He was trying to get set up to have an alcohol ablation procedure done on it in Baylor when he was diagnosed with a late-stage, very advanced and aggressive cancer of the esophagus, which was ironically likely contributed to by the very acid-inducing heart medications he had been taking for his cardiomyopathy. He strongly felt, however, that the Verapamil saved his life from the heart problem. No doubt it was one of those "Catch 22" situations. To complete the history, for anyone reading this, he received a pacemaker for the heart issue about year before he died from the cancer.

 

[catwoman]

An 18YO high school student in the Fort Worth TX area recently died after baseball (in the winter??? but that's what the news story said) practice.

The ME's website listed cause of death as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

I look at the ME's website frequently. That's a very common cause of death -- but not for an 18YO.

 

[rnff2]

This is very sad, and such a silent killer.

I was actually diagnosed with IHSS after my 2nd OHS 3 1/2 weeks ago. My surgeon sat down and explained all the details of my surgery and said I have IHSS. Needless to say I was rather shocked that it took 1 OHS and 23 years after to diagnosis this. I have had ECHOs and cardiac follow up since the age of 14 and never a mention of this condition, and I was never given any restrictions after my 1st OHS. Needless to say I feel lucky to be here.

 

[twinmaker]

So, so sad. LINDA