Teenagers
"Teenagers can develop all types of heart conditions. A teenager often responds to potential cardiac problems differently to younger children and to adults." — Dr Naqvi
Teenagers often have a good understanding of heart structure from school (KS3 science and biology GCSE). However, the wealth of information online can be frightening. It's important to know that most online information about heart problems refers to much older people.
Serious heart problems, such as heart attacks and heart failure, are very unusual in teenagers. The most common conditions affecting teenagers are:
What to Expect
If you are coming for a cardiac assessment, it is likely you will have some basic investigations. These are non-invasive and painless:
ECG
Checking the electrical activity of your heart.
Echocardiogram
An ultrasound scan to see the structure of your heart.
Exercise Test
Monitoring how your heart responds to physical activity.