At a recent Parliamentary event organised by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, gave his support to the ongoing campaign for a national strategy for the prevention of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD).

Justin said:

“Every week, 12 apparently fit and healthy young (aged 35 and under) people in the UK die suddenly from an undiagnosed heart defect.  In 80% of these cases, there will have been no signs or symptoms until it is too late.

“It is important that we establish a national strategy for the prevention of young sudden cardiac death and ensure the government acts to prevent the hundreds of deaths of young people each year from these undiagnosed cardiac conditions.

“CRY believes screening is vitally important.  Any person aged 14-35 can go to www.testmyheart.org.uk to book an appointment for a free heart screening which includes an ECG.  CRY also provides the follow up ultrasound test on the same day. CRY now tests around 30,000 young people each year and well over 190,000 since the screening programme was launched in 1995.”