Bronny James suffers cardiac arrest, but it could happen to any young athlete

Bronny James suffers cardiac arrest, but even though it is rare it could happen to any young athlete.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - One Monday, NBA star LeBron James's son Bronny, suffered sudden cardiac arrest during basketball practice at USC. Bronny, who is only 18, was hospitilized and has since been released.

“Sudden cardiac arrest is a sudden incidence where the heart where the heart stops beating." cardiologist Dr. Preeti Chandra said. "Most commonly because of a catastrophic arrhythmia or abnormal rhythm of the heart muscle.”

According to Nick Santos, the athletic trainer at Yuma High School, all coaches and assistant coaches are required to be CPR certified. There are also AEDs in every school building.

"We do teach our coaches the warning signs and symptoms of potential cardiac arrest" Santos said. "It is important to establish that change of survival and have an emergency action plan in place.”
Prior to participating in competitive sports, student athletes must undergo a medical physical.

“In that physical there are often clues that they may need additional testing." Chandra said. "Not all athletes an ekg or an echocardiogram. But a thorough physical examination and an excellent family history is important.”

People who have a family history with sudden cardiac death many times will need to go through more testing.

Dr. Chandra and interventional cardiologist Dr. Habteab Feseha say that fast treatment is the most important thing.

“Quick and appropriate CPR is paramount for saving a life with sudden cardiac death," Dr. Chandra said. "So the brain starts to die 3 minutes after sudden cardiac arrest. So every minute that passes after sudden cardiac arrest means we are losing more of the brain. "

“That is between life and death," Dr. Feseha said. "The sooner someone gets effective CPR they have a much higher chance of survival.” 

While cardiac arrest in young athletes is still extremely rare (1 in 38,000 for boys and 1 in 122,000 for girls per Dr. Chandra), there is a greater chance of it happening while playing high intensity sports, such as basketball and soccer.

"The NCAA records that about four percent of its athletes are basketball players, but among all their sudden cardiac deaths 20 percent happen in basketball."

It is important to understand the signs of sudden cardiac arrest, so that should it occur action can be taken immediately.

"I'd look for signs of potential heavy breathing, potential change in color of the skin," Santos said. "I would say not having an equilibrium that isnt going straight up. And potentially be in and out of consciousness. Just being aware that what is happening could lead to a potential collapse.”

Playing sports in extreme temperatures also adds a greater risk.

“One of the key steps to prevent that is good hydration," Dr. Chandra said. "Especially in a place like yuma we can’t stress this enough” 

If you see anyone collapse on the field or the court. Find an AED. Anyone can use them. They are located near or in every sports complex or arena.