CK part of movement to up screening of athletes for cardiac risks

SILVERDALE -- Fortunately for Ken Ahlstrom, none of the student-athletes he tends to as athletic trainer at Central Kitsap High School have shown signs of serious heart issues.

Earlier this month, Ahlstrom partnered with medical providers for a day-long event where 90 students were screened using an electrocardiogram. These devices, often called EKGs or ECGs, measure electrical activity in the heart, allowing physicians to diagnose a range of health conditions that may put someone at risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

Only a fraction of student-athletes experience sudden cardiac arrest during their competitive careers, but a number of unexpected deaths of prep athletes with undiagnosed heart conditions have ignited a growing nationwide interest in preventative EKG screening.

“Unfortunately,