Free heart screening in Frome

A FREE heart screening session will be taking place in Frome, funded by the Julian Wort Memorial Fund.

In June around 100 local young people will be screened by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) thanks to the  fundraising efforts of the family and friends of Julian Wort, who died suddenly of a undiagnosed heart condition at the age of 28 in March 2000.

This will be the fourth screening session paid for by the Julian Wort Memorial Fund. So far 278 young people between the ages of 14 and 35 have been screened thanks to these sessions.

Every week, 12 apparently fit and healthy young (aged 35 and under) people lose their lives to sudden cardiac death in the UK – a statistic that is believed to be a conservative estimate.

A staggering 80% of these apparently healthy young people who die from young sudden cardiac death will have shown no previous sign of heart defects until it is too late – which is why CRY believes screening is so vitally important.

An ECG test is a simple way to identify the vast majority of abnormalities that can cause sudden deaths in young people. The test is quick, non-invasive and, if necessary, a further Echocardiogram can be taken on the same day to provide further clarity or reassurance.

The free screening is being held at Oakfield Academy on Saturday 30th June for people aged between 14-35. Appointments can be booked online by going to www.testmy heart.org.uk or by calling CRY on 0203 691 0000.