by Anna Witters
A few New Prairie students performed their heart screening skills at the HOSA State Leadership Conference in Indianapolis.
The students were Makayla Scarborough, Mackenzie Scarborough, Allison Hein, Quinlan Eggert, Maddie Andrsyiak, Olivia Swanson, Megan Boyd, Addie Woodham, Allie Palmer, Callie Metzger, and Nicki Hesters.
They used an EKG, or electrocardiogram, to watch the electrical rhythm of the heart. This is an easy way to detect abnormalities in the heart.
Cardiovascular disease accounts for nearly one of every three deaths in the United States, claiming more lives each year than all forms of cancer and chronic lung disease combined, according to the American Heart Association. About 92 million adults live with some form of cardiovascular disease, and about 2,300 adults die of cardiovascular disease each day.
According to Tonya Aerts, New Prairie’s HOSA advisor, “[Heart screenings are important] because you may have an arrhythmia that you don’t know you have that could cause your heart to beat erratically and suddenly stop. You wouldn’t know that you had that unless you were screened. A medical intervention can prevent this.”
Aerts’ goal is to spread awareness of the benefits of heart screenings, because “we did have someone pass away here from an undetected heart condition, and also at a neighboring school too,” she said.
Heart screenings are available at any local hospital, and typically cost around $50.