Heart test tour traces lucky 13

The launch of the CRY Philips Test My Heart Tour ’09 took place in Durham in memory of Levon Morland,   who died suddenly from a heart attack aged 22.    His father and other bereaved families attended the launch, together with Philips marketing director Peter Sutton (far left), CRY ceo Alison Cox (centre in red) and local MP Kelvan Jones (centre).

A national campaign aimed at reducing the number of undiagnosed heart conditions has achieved its first successes.

The Test My Heart Hour ’09, launched by CRY – the Cardiac Risk in the Young charity – and supported by Philips, visited 13 locations in England and screened more than 2,000 young people’s hearts to detect any abnormalities that could lead to Sudden Death Syndrome.

To date, 13 young people with heart abnormalities have been found with conditions that might otherwise have gone undetected.  They have been referred so that GPs can arrange appropriate follow-up treatment.

Testing took place in a mobile unit consisting of three rooms equipped with Philips’ ECG and ultrasound equipment.  A team of doctors and cardiologists was present at all locations.

The tour started in Durham and ended in Brentford, West London, where honorary CRY president Sir Ian Botham, 53, underwent an ultrasound examination.  He commented “The CRY Philips Test My Heart Tour ’09 has detected potentially fatal conditions.  The painless procedure I underwent can save young lives and that is why this tour is so important.”

See the full report on the front page of the July 2009 issue of RAD Magazine.