The charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) has organised a cardiac screening day for staff and students at the University’s Sighthill campus on Sunday, 19 May, between 9am and 4pm.
CRY’s mission is to identify those that are at risk from sudden cardiac death. Sudden death syndrome is an umbrella term for the many different causes of young sudden cardiac death. These conditions include thickening of the heart muscle or an abnormal structure of the heart, and irregularities of the impulses that control the rhythm of the heart.
It’s important to emphasise that exercise is not harmful and sport itself does not cause cardiac arrest, but can exacerbate an undetected condition.
At the screening, you will receive an electrocardiogram (ECG) that examines the electrical activity of the heart, and if required, an echocardiogram, as well as a physical examination. The ECG is a simple, non-invasive and painless test that will only take a few minutes to complete and is performed by qualified cardiac physiologists. This is an ultrasound scan of the heart that looks at its size, structure and blood flow and takes about 30 minutes to perform.
If you’re under the age of 35 and wish to have a free cardiac screening, follow the steps below:
Once the appointment is booked, you will receive a confirmation email, which includes a consent form. Please download the document, read carefully before completing and take it with you on the day.
This screening is being funded by The Robert Worboys Memorial Fund. Rob was a coach with the Edinburgh Napier Knights American Football club who passed away suddenly in 2016 due to an undiagnosed cardiac issue. Following Rob’s death, his mother Gina Worboys created a memorial fund that raises money to organise cardiac screening programme for people aged 14–35 years old, via CRY.
You’ll find further information about cardiac screening here.