One of the greatest shocks in sports can be the sight of a young athlete collapsing on the field and dying of cardiac arrest.
Onlookers wonder how a well-conditioned, youthful competitor can die suddenly, without warning. Now, researchers say they have made a discovery that could lead to better understanding of the mysterious genetic disease that causes such tragedies.
One in 500 people carry a gene mutation that causes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes, such as pro football player Gaines Adams of the Chicago Bears, who died at age 26.
The condition causes thickening of the heart wall. In addition, it also affects the heart’s electrical system, which can result in dizziness, fainting, and, in severe cases, sudden cardiac death.
A team at Kent University in the U.K. have identified for the first time how the heart muscle is turned on and off by calcium.
The findings are expected to provide new tools for research into treating the condition, researchers said.
The study appears in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
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