Saugus Residents Offered Heart Screenings

Century 21 Combe Real Estate Corp. today announced that as a service to the community, it is sponsoring a preventive heart screening program on Thursday July 26 from 1-7 PM. The program, run by HeartScreen America, Inc., will take place in the Century 21 Combe Real Estate office at 390 Lincoln Avenue in Saugus, and is open to all Saugus residents ages six and up. Pre-registration is required by July 23 at www.HeartScreenAmerica.com or by calling 1- 866-722-8008. With an extensive sports background, President Arthur Combe feels he needs to do something about ?seeing kids having cardiac problems in athletics.? Combe says his own family has been lucky. His son required open heart surgery shortly after birth, but is now fine. ?How many kids? cardiac defects go undetected or unchecked? Cardiac arrest can occur at anytime, in any game, during any inning,? he says. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) claims over 5,000 young American lives each year. Many seemingly healthy children die suddenly and unexpectedly every year from a heart problem that can often be detected with a simple, painless, non-invasive test, the electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). Screenings cost $49 for children (6 - 18 years old) and $69 for adults. These services can cost $500-$800 at outpatient facilities, and health insurance will not cover this test unless a young person exhibits symptoms. In addition to the electrocardiogram, each participant receives a family and personal heart health questionnaire, blood pressure reading and BMI calculation. The adult screening program also includes a cholesterol and glucose reading.